In A Christmas Carol, the beloved story that I’m sure we’ve all heard more than once in the last several weeks, Charles Dickens tells the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, a man so hardened that when asked whether the poor could be cared for, he retorts that if they would rather die than live in workhouses, “they had better do it and decrease the surplus population.” That fictional moment has nearly come alive in the ongoing global conversation around assisted suicide.
In the United Kingdom, Lord Falconer of Thoroton suggested in his remarks to the British House of Lords that if someone’s desire for an assisted death is influenced by their life circumstances ― including poverty ― they should not be barred from choosing to end their life. Of course, in Britain’s nationalized health system, cost isn’t the limiting factor, yet Lord Falconer’s words suggested that poverty might be considered a viable reason someone’s life is no longer worth living.
Poverty as a circumstance that justifies assisted suicide? That’s far too similar to Scrooge’s dehumanizing logic. Falconer’s argument quickly prompted comparisons to historical cases where society has been willing to accept the taking of human life under the guise of resolving social problems. This is just one example that reveals to us how radically the scope of assisted suicide has expanded.
In Canada, what is known as “medical assistance in dying” ― or MAiD ― has grown significantly in recent years. Originally limited to those facing imminent death, the range of qualifying conditions now includes mental health issues and other challenges. MAiD has become a relatively common outcome in Canada and at times ranks among the leading causes of death. In Colorado, eligibility for assisted death has broadened as well, including conditions like severe eating disorders. In countries like the Netherlands, euthanasia provisions have extended even to children with serious illness. One story involved a Belgian woman who survived a terrorist attack yet was approved for euthanasia to address her resulting post-traumatic stress. In that case, the attackers who caused her trauma were not subject to similar judgments about their worth of life.
Every person has inherent dignity and worth, regardless of health, wealth, or circumstance. As debates rage over assisted suicide, we must ask hard questions and give morally right answers about how our American society will value life and protect the vulnerable.
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