By Eric Dawson
The shock and sadness of last summer’s tragedy in The Grand in Surprise has subsided.
It is now time to have a serious discussion regarding euthanasia and death with dignity. The “murder/suicide” labeled on the death certificate is far from the truth.
Two elderly, loving people, who felt they were a burden, acted. Their situation made them choose to depart this earth on their own terms. Their deaths were a result of not having any options, when both people had lost the will to continue living. It is unfortunate that the method used had to be gun violence.
Why is it that us humans can decide on life or death for our pets but not for ourselves? We treat our pets better than we treat our elderly. We are compassionate when we make the hard decision to alleviate suffering by euthanizing an older dog.
“Put him out of his misery” is a common euphemism in American dialogue. Why can we not allow those that have had a full life, but now want to end it, fulfill their wish, to end their misery?
My argument is that those elderly that are of sound mind that make the choice to end their own life should be allowed to do so, with our blessings — safely, cleanly, with dignity and grace.
The memories of that wonderful couple that died last summer should not be shamed due to the cause of death listed on paper. Their situation needs to be considered.
Financial stress, excessive pride and broken bodies need to be part of the story. They were done living. They did not have options. They chose to end their lives, degrading and messy as it was.
We make choices every day on how to live. Our suffering elderly need to be able to choose how to die.
