Dear LPG,

I have always been contentious of the fact that mortal beings like me, take it upon themselves to dictate that another mortal can’t die if they wish or want to for good reason. 

My contention is that the individuals that are making those decisions consider themselves to be righteous, with high morals and they make their decisions on moral grounds.  Are the people who make such decisions not forced to do things like urinate and defecate like everyone else?  They might be in elevated positions but, in my opinion, they are not qualified enough to decide that individuals are not allowed to die if they choose to.

Imagine an individual, well-educated, bright and intelligent with a functioning mind and who has been  a person who had lived his life meaningfully for forty or more years, and who is then suddenly afflicted with a debilitating illness for years that render them unable to do anything for themselves; a person who finds themselves  in pain every day, conscious that they family is distressed by their suffering while they are unable to do anything to alleviate that suffering without breaking the law.  Why would anyone want to endure that kind of life for the sake of what; existing?

No Mortal has the right to force anyone to live like this.  I would want to die with dignity as a man if I ever found myself in that situation.  This is my contention.

I would like to change minds, just in case I become a victim of the statistically forecasted prediction that a percentage of us humans will experience mental illness in our lives.    I would like to know that someone would do the right thing, without fear of prosecution.

After writing this contentious letter, a news bulletin appeared in the media informing that a State in Australia granted an individual the right to die and it is said that the person died happy and with dignity.  If the Australian Government can see the logic in the argument for assisted dying why can’t the British, are they more righteous.  Why can’t people make their own minds up?

Rudy Morgan.

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