Britain demonstrates a muddled approach to law and ethics about assisted death, while countries like Switzerland and South Korea are moving forward. In July 2009, the orchestral conductor Sir Edward Downs had to go to Switzerland to end the painful lives of himself and his wife. Why is Britain so behind in clarifying and evolving the law about this issue?
Britain demonstrates a muddled approach to law and ethics about assisted death, while countries like Switzerland and South Korea are moving forward. In July 2009, the orchestral conductor Sir Edward Downs had to go to Switzerland to end the painful lives of himself and his wife. Why is Britain so behind in clarifying and evolving the law about this issue?
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Britain demonstrates a muddled approach to law and ethics about assisted death, while countries like Switzerland and South Korea are moving forward. In July 2009, the orchestral conductor Sir Edward Downs had to go to Switzerland to end the painful lives of himself and his wife. Why is Britain so behind in clarifying and evolving the law about this issue?
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More balanced view on euthanasia possible when religion does not interfere in politics By Chris Williams
Three sad deaths last week
resurrected the muddled argu- ments about the right to die in Britain. Meanwhile the Korean courts are addressing the ques- tion progressively. On Thursday, the world’s old- est man, Henry Allingham, died peacefully aged 113. He attrib- uted his long life to, “cigarettes, whisky and wild, wild women.” He clearly enjoyed his long life to the full, and he remained well and active until the last few months. Last year he published his autobiography. The intro- duction was by Prince Charles, Chris Williams who called him “one of our na- ● Chris Williams is based at tion’s historic treasures.” the Center for International As we watched the 91st birth- Education and Research, day celebrations of South University of Birmingham, Africa’s Nelson Mandela, it is United Kingdom. hard not to conclude that life ● He can be reached at should always be sustained, never terminated. He became chrisunula@yahoo.com president when aged 76. Doubtless during the 27 years of his harsh imprisonment he con- sidered suicide. But not everyone enjoys the robust health of Mandela and Allingham. Last week, the renowned orchestral conductor Sir Edward Downs, and his wife Joan, had traveled to Switzerland to voluntarily end their lives at the clinic, “Dignitas.” They were painfully ill, and assisting death in Britain is illegal. At 85, Downs was almost blind and deaf, a cruel torture for a musician. His wife was ter- minally ill with cancer. After 54 years of marriage, they thought life without one another seemed intolerable. At Dignitas with family, they held hands, sipped a clear liquid and died peaceful- ly a few minutes later. undisturbed. off the life support system of a one who committed suicide was suicide bombing? The Easter ready, and the Health Minister, not concern whether suicide is Like 117 other distressed Downs was obviously a man of brain-dead man, at the buried at a crossroads with a story tells how Jesus engaged in Bernat Soria put the obvious ar- good or bad, but why it might British people, Downs and his creative thinking, and determi- Severance Hospital. stake driven through the chest, assisted suicide. In the 5th cen- gument, “The owner of your happen and how. Religious per- wife had to go to Switzerland to nation. And this persisted to the Passive euthanasia by stop- as one would do to a vampire. tury, a sect of Christian mar- body is you.” spectives usually want us only arrange a dignified end to their end, when his trip to Dignitas ping a life support system is one There is a British joke that is tyrs, the Donatists, were so Anyone who is lost for words to consider the first question, lives, because the British gov- highlighted the lack of leader- step away from active euthana- punishable by death sentence. troublesome that they were de- when trying to explain death to because answering the second ernment has been muddled and ship from our politicians. On the sia in the form of assisted sui- Not long ago it was true. In the clared heretics. For heresy, the a child, or to someone who is be- reveals inconvenient theological cowardly in clarifying the law day he left the United Kingdom, cide. But, as with so much else 1860s, reports told of a messy punishment was, death. reaved, might use a line from truths. about assisting death. The another muddled attempt to in Korea, this could quickly attempt to hang a man who had Like the restrictions now put this film. When asked what The arguments for and Director of Public Prosecutions clarify the law had failed. evolve. Perhaps soon, Korea been saved after he failed to die on women in countries such as happens after death, I remem- against passive and active eu- even refused to confirm whether The first issue here is not might have a clear law like from cutting his own throat. Afghanistan and Iran, the reli- ber that Sampedro replied with thanasia are evolving. But in a friend or family accompanying about the right to die. It is about Switzerland. But why is Britain, Until 1961, attempted suicide gious view of suicide seems the simple truth that religions the meantime perhaps A.H. someone to Dignitas would be the responsibility of any govern- which boasts about its long de- could be punished by a prison more related to controlling and must deny to preserve the logic Clough provides the best advice charged with unlawful killing. ment to clarify and evolve its mocratic and justice systems, so sentence in Britain, and in 1969 maintaining religious power of their dogma — “When you in his poetic parody of a Biblical Downs studied music at laws. This is especially neces- backward about this issue? a boy was whipped for trying to through fear and punishment, die, you are the same as you commandment — “Thou shalt Birmingham University. He had sary in a common law system as One explanation stems from a take his own life on the Isle of than reason, logic or human were before you were born.” not kill but need not strive, offi- left school at 14, worked for the in England, where the courts world-beating statistic. The av- Man. wellbeing. Perhaps without religion in- ciously, to keep alive.” gas board, and then secretly got can make up the law if there are erage age of members in the But as with much in British But attitudes can evolve in terfering in politics, Korea will Last May, the “Death with a music scholarship. He played no clear rules. Why should dis- British House of Lords is 69. law, we must look beyond the unpredictable ways. In 2004, a achieve a more balanced view. Dignity Act” made Washington the violin, but also learned the tressed families have to risk im- This must give rise to a less obvious facts to find a greater true Spanish film, “Mar Remember that during the the second American state after French horn. A friend of mine, prisonment because it is impos- than average corporate view of motive. Not only could those Adentro” (The Sea Inside), Joseon era, high class women Oregon, to legalize assisted Bobs Woodhead, who is very full sible to guess what a judge the ethics of death. Also, among who attempted suicide be exe- about the fight for assisted sui- would carry a small knife (“eun- death. A woman with pancreatic of life at age 80, tells how her fa- might think? the Lords are a disproportion- cuted and imprisoned in cide by a sailor Ramon jangdo”) hidden in their robes, cancer became the first to bene- ther, who was registrar at the In contrast, two months ago ately high number of religious Britain, but the King, later gov- Sampedro, opened. The first to take their own life if rape was fit. In a week when we learn university, gave Downs permis- the Korean courts took a pro- leaders, including 26 Bishops. ernment, could confiscate all night was attended by Prime inevitable. The knife was small that Kim Jong-il probably has sion to do extra fire watch du- gressive step towards confirm- Britain has always had mud- their property. Minister Zapatero and most of to show that it was for suicide, pancreatic cancer, this raises cu- ties during wartime bombing ing that life should not always dled laws and strange attitudes Suicide highlights contradic- the cabinet. The Spanish were not defense. When former rious questions. How does raids. He was happy to sit on be prolonged, if it damaged “hu- towards death. It is even still il- tions in religious ethics. How considering following The President Roh Moo-hyun died, North Korean law view assisted the roof of a building, every man dignity.” The Supreme legal to die in the parliament can Islam, Judaism and Netherlands and Belgium, to le- Koreans did not question his death? Is it possible that if Kim night if possible. But everyone Court upheld the decision of a buildings. Political interpreta- Christianity oppose suicide but galize euthanasia. The Catholic right to end his own life, but wanted to die with dignity, he knew he had another motive. lower court, which supported tions of religion do not help. In respect martyrdom, which per- Church opposed the idea. By why he felt forced to do this. would need to travel to America, There he could practice his horn the wishes of a family to switch Medieval times the body of some- sists in modern form through 2008, draft legislation was The moral questions should or perhaps even to Seoul?
World disregards N.K. labor camps
By Blaine Harden oners were tortured to death studies at Stanford University. Burmese have Aung San Suu Washington Post Service and parade grounds where for- Nor have the camps become Kyi, Darfurians have Mia mer prisoners said they were much of an issue for the Farrow and George Clooney,” Images and accounts of the forced to watch executions. American public, even though she said. “North Koreans have North Korean gulag become Guard towers and electrified annotated images of them can no one like that.” sharper, more harrowing and fences surround the camps, pho- be quickly called up on Google Before guards shoot prisoners more accessible with each pass- tographs show. Earth and even though they who have tried to escape, they ing year. “We have this system of slav- have existed for half a century, turn each execution into a A distillation of testimony from ery right under our nose,” said 12 times as long as the Nazi con- teachable moment, according to survivors and former guards, An Myeong Chul, a camp guard centration camps and twice as interviews with five North newly published by the Korean who defected to South Korea. long as the Soviet Gulag. Koreans who said they have Bar Association, details the daily “Human rights groups can’t stop Although precise numbers are witnessed such killings. lives of 200,000 political prison- it. South Korea can’t stop it. The impossible to obtain, Western Prisoners older than 16 are re- ers estimated to be in the camps: United States will have to take governments and human quired to attend, and they are Eating a diet of mostly corn and up this issue at the negotiating groups estimate that hundreds forced to stand as close as 15 feet salt, they lose their teeth, their table.” of thousands of people have died to the condemned, according to gums turn black, their bones But the camps have not been in the North Korean camps. the interviews. A prison official weaken and, as they age, they discussed in meetings between North Korea officially says the usually gives a lecture, explain- hunch over at the waist. Most U.S. diplomats and North camps do not exist. It restricts ing how the Dear Leader, as Kim work 12- to 15-hour days until Korean officials. By exploding movements of the few foreigners Jong-il is known, had offered a they die of malnutrition-related nuclear bombs, launching mis- it allows into the country and se- “chance at redemption” through illnesses, usually around the age siles and cultivating a reputa- verely punishes those who sneak hard labor. of 50. Allowed just one set of tion for hair-trigger belligerence, in. U.S. reporters Laura Ling The condemned are hooded, clothes, they live and die in rags, the government of Kim Jong-il and Euna Lee were sentenced and their mouths are stuffed without soap, socks, underclothes has created a permanent securi- last month to 12 years of hard with pebbles. Three guards fire or sanitary napkins. ty flash point on the Korean labor, after being convicted in a three times each, as onlookers The camps have never been Peninsula — and effectively closed trial on charges of enter- see blood spray and bodies visited by outsiders, so these ac- shoved the issue of human ing the country illegally. crumple, those interviewed counts cannot be independently rights off the negotiating table. North Korea’s gulag also said. verified. But high-resolution “Talking to them about the lacks the bright light of celebri- “We almost experience the ex- A photo released by Korean Central News Agency on July 18 shows Kim Jong-il (first from left), top satellite photographs, now ac- camps is something that has not ty attention. No high-profile, in- ecutions ourselves,” said Jung leader of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, inspecting Unit 597 of the Navy of the Korean cessible to anyone with an been possible,” said David ternationally recognized figure Gwang-il, 47, adding that he People’s Army at an undisclosed location. Xinhua-Yonhap News Internet connection, reveal vast Straub, a senior official in the has emerged to coax Americans witnessed two executions as an labor camps in the mountains of State Department’s office of into understanding or investing inmate at Camp 15. After three of the Bowibu, the National knocked out my front teeth with When his interrogation was fin- North Korea. The photographs Korean affairs during the Bush emotionally in the issue, said years there, Jung said, he was Security Agency. After eight a baseball bat. They fractured ished, he said, he weighed 80 corroborate survivors’ stories, and Clinton years. There have Suzanne Scholte, a Washington- allowed to leave in 2003. He fled years in a government office that my skull a couple of times. I was pounds. “When I finally got to showing entrances to mines been no such meetings since based activist who brings camp to China and now lives in Seoul. handled trade with China, a fel- not a spy, but I admitted to be- the camp, I actually gained where former prisoners said President Obama took office. survivors to the United States Like several former prisoners, low worker accused him of being ing a spy after nine months of weight,” said Jung, who worked they worked as slaves, in-camp “They go nuts when you talk for speeches and marches. Jung said the most arduous part a South Korean agent. torture.” summers in cornfields and detention centers where former about it,” said Straub, who is “Tibetans have the Dalai of his imprisonment was his pre- “They wanted me to admit to When he was arrested, Jung spent winters in the mountains guards said uncooperative pris- now associate director of Korean Lama and Richard Gere, camp interrogation at the hands being a spy,” Jung said. “They said, he weighed 167 pounds. felling trees.