Euthanasia Abandons Despairing People to Worst Fears – National Review

A UK actress has announced she is seriously pondering euthanasia due to fears of being a burden when she can no longer care of herself. From the Manchester Evening News story:

Actress Claire King had revealed that she is considering euthanasia after being diagnosed with a degenerative disease. Claire, who plays Erica Holroyd in Corrie, suffers from rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disease where the bodys own immune system attacks the joints.

The 54-year-old actress developed rheumatoid arthritis in the early 90s and she has had joints removed and plates put in her fingers as a result of the condition. Former Emmerdale star Claire, who is divorced and has no children, worries about becoming a burden when she gets older and understands why people consider assisted dying.

Speaking with the Sunday Mirror she said: I can understand why people choose assisted dying and its getting to the point where I would consider it myself. Im not going to be hurting any offspring as I havent got any. Most of my family will be gone. Its not a selfish thing. Its a decision at a certain age, when youre becoming a burden to others.

We can all empathize with those fears. But note: Kingsdesire to die has to do withexistential anguish, not unbearable pain, which is euthanasias selling point.

Studies from Oregon and Canada show that the request to die is overwhelmingly caused by such anguish. But heres the thing: Such despaircan often be alleviatedwith appropriate mental health and sociological interventions.

But in our rush to honor lethal choice, we often deny people the very help that could restore their desire to live.

Worse, when we say, Of course you want to die, here are your poison pills or lethal jabwe confirm the despairing persons worst fears about themselves. In essence, we are telling them: Yes, you are a burden. Yes, your life isnt worth living. Yes, we are better off if you are dead.

Euthanasia is many things, but true compassionwhich means to suffer withisnt one of them.

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Euthanasia Abandons Despairing People to Worst Fears - National Review