Sorry Roy, but Haley’s Right

Many of you have probably been watching Coronation Street recently and it’s moving storyline pitting Roy’s morals over Haley’s reality. In the soap, after being diagnosed with an untreatable cancer, Hayley Cropper is planning her own death with her husband Roy fighting her over it. Julie Hesmondhalgh who plays Haley said in a recent interview, “It’s a very complicated issue.

“Everybody feels that if they got a terminal disease they’d want to be shot but obviously there are massive ethical issues around that, and it’s easy to exploit older people.

“It is very delicate. Maybe we need to sign something now, when we are fit and healthy, rather than when we’re old but even then it’s complex. When is the right time?

“I want to be able to say my goodbyes properly, so I think it’s something that needs to be talked about.

“And yes, personally, I would like the law to change but I know this is going to be a very long and very complex road.”

"Hear Hear" I say. And I’m glad a mainstream, highly respected programme such as Coronation Street is brave enough to address the issue. For me, choosing how we die should be a basic human freedom. If an individual's quality of life is terrible, they should have the right to stop suffering.

Suicide : A Human Right

The Human Rights act gives people of the UK many many rights, including the right to life. But if you have the right to life, then why not the right to die when you want. Why should the state and society say ‘You are not allowed to legally die under any circumstances except natural ones” ? 

For me you should have the right to assert that you are in control over your own life, not society, not the state. If you don’t want to be here then why should you be forced to stay? Suicide should be your right not a crime.

Actually, many people already choose how long they live their life, anyway, but the choice isn't always conscious. There's the cigarette argument. I'm going to die at some point so might as well die having pleasure. Of course this isn’t just smoking, it applies to bungee jumping, sky diving, etc. I suppose some may argue that no one expects to die in the process of doing these things, but certainly knowledge of the risk associated with such activities would make those engaged in such activities culpable for their own death, ergo suicide.

Why Do People Choose To Die ?  

According to the Philosophy Today website, The Six Reasons People Attempt Suicide are

• They're depressed
• They're psychotic
• They're impulsive
• They're crying out for help
• They have a philosophical desire to die
• They've made a mistake 

It is a widely held misconception that people with terminal illnesses or disabilities are more likely than those in the general population to want to end their lives. In fact suicidal thinking is far more likely to be related to feelings of hopelessness or worthlessness - existential or spiritual factors that may accompany illness - rather than physical symptoms which can in the main be effectively controlled.

90% of those who commit suicide suffer from some form of mental health issues including depression, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder and alcohol or drug misuse.

The American psychologist Thomas Joiner has said that the three main factors causing someone to turn to suicide are:

• A perception (usually mistaken) that they are alone in the world and that no one really cares about them.
• A feeling (again, usually mistaken) that they are a burden on others and that people would be better off if they were dead.
• Fearlessness towards pain and death 

It is when these factors accompany illness that people might begin to find the prospect of euthanasia or assisted suicide appealing. But then our response, as with any suicidal person, is always to get them to address the issues, instead of them being allowed death as a choice.

It is simply false that people who commit suicide are mentally ill, although no doubt some suicides are the result of mental illness. In many cases, the decision to commit suicide is reached with proper information and good reasoning.

The Right to Life

In reality, there is no right to life, life is an accident, and human life is no more precious or sacred than every other life, no matter what the species. Too many humans have the attitude that human life is sacred, while slaughtering other species for a variety of reasons from food, to profit, to fun.

Since human life is now overwhelming the ecosystem, and modern medicine is keeping people alive who would otherwise be dead, suicide is a creative and ‘other’ life affirming act. To me, depression is just as valid a reason to stop living as any other. But it’s all a bit macabre going to a clinic especially to die. Far better to end your life in your own time, at home, calmly and quietly and with no pain. The institutionalisation of death isn’t for me, I do it my way.

People play the religious card all the time. "Life is sacred". Not to an atheist it isn’t. I find it morally unacceptable I should have to obey rules based on religious nonsense. The issue of whether suicide is morally permissible is different from that of whether suicide is reasonable. Note that there are many unreasonable and stupid things that can be morally permissible.

Suicide is a Selfish Act Carried Out By Cowards

A common comment is suicide is selfish and that it causes much pain to those left behind. They may rightly blame themselves and yes it is harder to get over the death of a suicide, than someone killed in an accident. If someone’s family and friends were there in the first place, they wouldn’t necessarily be feeling suicidal would they? Again, if they try to interfere, it’s because they are the ones who have to live with the death and whatever feelings of inadequacy, shame etc., that they feel, that’s their problem. 

The whole selfish argument often takes the form of “Oh, people who kill themselves are selfish. They are cowards.” What a classy move! Let’s project our feelings about the death and place the blame on the person who is no longer here. Yes, in a way it is selfish. The depressed person is finally standing up and doing something 100% for their best interests. They probably didn’t do that in life, so it’s shocking to others that that person finally stood up for themselves. As for coward? To admit that your life is meaningless, empty, non-productive and only bringing you pain, and then choosing to do something about it is quite the opposite of cowardly. It takes a brave person to admit enough is enough and step away from a life going nowhere. Cowards stick around, spend a lifetime suffering trying to make others happy because they didn’t die and leave them with a guilty conscience.

Those people who say "suicide cause people to suffer a loss and is therefore totally selfish" is in fact also selfish. Because they don’t want to suffer a loss, they convince the person who is suffering to remain alive, and usually give only small or no consideration of what this person may actually be feeling. To be honest, you don't really want to get into "why do you want to commit suicide" sort of question. It's certainly not something normal people can understand. So long as they’ve done their bit to stop someone committing suicide their conscience is clear, whether the suicidal friend’s life has improved as a consequence is by the by.

The only area that suicide is not good is its effect on society. Somebody has got to clean up the mess. Some people do have to suffer a loss. Though other than the social effect, there isn't much "bad" about suicide.

Why Not Legalise Suicide?

Legalising suicide risks turning it into a lifestyle choice. But what is wrong with free choice? My responsibilities to others do not run to what I do to myself. I’ll mind my business, other people should mind theirs.

According to the widely accepted ethical principle of respect for autonomy (i.e. freedom of choice), people should have the right to control their own body and life (as long as they do not abuse any other person's rights), and the state should not create laws that prevent citizens being able to choose when and how they die.

Back to Haley

Roy’s idea that Haley should keep on living at all costs because there's always hope that things will get better is very problematic. Sure, it is possible that tomorrow someone will discover the cure for her horrible disease and give it to her. But reasonable decisions are made on the basis of what is probable, not merely of what is possible. It's certainly possible that tomorrow I'll win the lottery, but it would be unreasonable of me to start making debts today because what is possible need not be probable.

Although some, perhaps many cases of suicide do show disregard for the feelings or the interests of family and friends, it's simply false that all do. Sometimes people commit suicide with the agreement of family and friends, and sometimes they take into due consideration not only their own feelings and interests but also the ones of others. Hence, suicide need not be a selfish act any more than most other acts. This is Haley’s attitude and I think it’s the right one and it should now be carried out within the law.

Sometimes Suicidal Thoughts Alone are Enough

Sometimes it’s actually healthy to contemplate suicide. I've found that by thinking about it rationally and not too emotionally or seriously, you find that by embracing the ability to commit suicide, you free yourself from a lot of the pressures and responsibilities that might lead you to those thoughts in the first place. It is a kind of paradox.

For example, someone contemplating suicide because of financial responsibilities, find that the thought of being free of those responsibilities makes more agreeable options available, (such as declaring bankruptcy or just running away from those debts). 

I think suicidal thoughts are more natural than we like to admit. It is often a self-propagating state of despair which ultimately prevents someone from looking for alternative solutions. The prohibition and taboo surrounding the illegality of suicide might actually make the problem worse. It becomes a kind of "weapon" to use against others rather than a legitimate solution.