Well, I dealt with the instance of incapacity separately. I am saying that, at a minimum, the likelihood of abuse should lead us to discourage assisted suicide, even if we treat it relatively leniently. That way, it will take a high degree of resolve to participate, at least.
Of course, there are background considerations to all of this, but I am not sure how my beliefs relate to this issue, frankly. However, think of it this way: suppose I knew that someone was going to get shot at noon, and I shot him at 10am. Would I still culpable for killing him? Yes, I would. Suppose that someone intent upon killing my wife insisted that I pulled the trigger, threatening to beat me, and then kill her anyway. Would I be culpable if I pulled the trigger: should I take the beating and make him do the deed? Yes, I should refuse to dirty my hands with participation in the murder. Suppose my wife said: "Go ahead, he will kill me anyway, and you might die from the beating". IMO, I should ignore her wishes, because it is vile to act as the agent of the murderer, regardless. Suppose she says:"It will break my heart to see him beat you so purposelessly, don't put me through it." IMHO, I should continue to ignore her wishes, even though she invokes her own mental anguish at seeing me beaten, because it is vile to act as the agent of the murderer. To me, then, the situation with assisted suicide is only a little better, and it is very dubious, if understandable, to acquiesce to such a request......... |
