FRONTLINE: The Suicide Tourist

I had my TV on channel 13 (PBS), not really paying attention to what was on, catching up on blogs I haven't read in a day.  I then heard something that caught my attention.  I had to stop blogging to watch and listen. After listining for a minute or two, I thought to myself - I wish I had paid attention to the program from the beginning.  The topic was assisted suicide.  This man, Craig Colby Ewert, was suffering from ALS.  ALS is a debilitating disease, which eventually paralizes the victim's muscular system.  This, in turn, renders the patient unable to swallow or control bowel movements.  It's a horrific and dreadful way to live -- if you call that living.   During this stage of his disease, he is still able to speak, but needs help with daily activities such as, shaving, bathing, eating, grooming and pamper changing.  He is also assisted with his breathing with an oxygen tank.  He is deathly afraid that when he losses the ability to speak, people will think that he is comfortable and not in any pain -- since he won't be able to speak to tell them otherwise.  He doesn't want to continue to be a burden to his wife and children.  Hence, he wants to take his own life.  Alas Dignitas.

Obviously, here in the United States, assisted suicide is illegal.  So this man and his wife went to Switzerland to participate in a program called Dignitas, a non-profit organization that helps people end their own lives.  A social worker is assigned to him, and together they talk about him ending his own life.  The social worker conducts an assessment to determine if Mr. Ewert is aware of the consequences of his decision.  So, together with his wife, and the social worker, they make plans for Ewert to swallow a poison that will end his life.  You are probably wondering if there's a question.  Yes, there is.  But first, let me say this.  I am a social worker and believe wholeheartedly in the social worker's Code of Ethics, in which states that a person has the right to SELF-DETERMINATION.  With that said, what would you do?  What does "quality of life" mean to you?  Do you believe humans have the right to take their own lives?  How were you raised?  Were you raised to believe that suicide is a sin?  If yes, have you changed your views since becoming an adult?  I know these are difficult, personal questions, but I would like to know.  What do I think, believe?  If my life got to the point, where I could not longer feed myself, go to the bathroom on my own, talk, breath on my own, or lived in a vegetated state, PULL THE PLUG -- PLEASE!!!