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Societies can prevent suicide by substituting homicide. In Canada, doctors in the spring of ‘23 will be authorized to encourage patients who are depressed, mentally ill, or just difficult or expensive to treat to commit suicide. To be fair, two doctors must sign off on the final decision, and there will be a 90-day waiting period before the execution can be carried out. If doctors are squeamish about it, the law is going to permit nurse practitioners to do the deed (probably with a hefty bonus for each ‘patient’ so treated).
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This new policy is materially different from the assisted suicide that is already legal in Canada. That sees doctors supplying the drugs for ending life and leaves it to the individuals to choose the time and place to self-administer.
Calling this policy immoral or amoral is underrating its evil by a light-year. That’s because the facts on the ground show that it’s an alternative to treating patients for pain or depression. The waiting list for mental health treatment in Canada in some programs can be as long as five years. Gee, I hope it is not that long for cancer treatment!
This extended wait time is quite enough to weaken vulnerably depressed or chronically anxious individuals, who would become more likely to choose to exit life than fight to regain their health. If the government can kill hope, it will be easier to get people to end their own suffering.
Image: Canadian hospital corridor by Cory Mogk. Unsplash license.
