Posted: August 9th, 2022

Assisted Suicide

Introduction
– Introduction on assisted suicide in Ireland (explaining what assisted suicide is, it’s still illegal, it’s a controversial topic etc.)
– Briefly mention what this essay will talk about
– Share my opinion (I don’t think assisted suicide should be illegal and I think the law should be reformed)

The Marie Fleming Case
– Explain the Marie Fleming case

Assisted Suicide
Human condition thrives in happiness and ability to perform autonomously, but always seeks to evade pain and suffering. Under the socialization process, a number of people have through disease, accident or birth become less autonomous and greatly dependent on their society, partners or family for them to live. On top of these such people, as well as, their families have come to endure great pains and ultimately come to the decision to end their lives prematurely to avoid the pain. Assisted suicide, is a way through which such individuals can access services to end of life, but across the world, there is a wider conflict on the legality, morality, and ethics of assisted suicide. A variety of factors are usually applied to provide parameters under which an individual’s life can be taken from them intentionally. Euthanasia, or assisted suicide or an individual’s right to die remain to be a controversial topic around the world, as they entail intentional deprivation of capacity for bodily functions, resulting in the death of an individual. The discourse that surrounds the topic of assisted suicide relates to the state of suffering, the action to be taken, the doer and the greater consequences that normalizing assisted suicide might bring.
Consider the case of Marie Flemming, a 59 year old woman who had suffered multiple sclerosis for over 25 years rending her immobile and dependent on her family, and society for her survival. She went to the Supreme Court of Ireland to seek the right to seek assisted suicide. Mrs. Flemming sought orders “permitting her to be lawfully assisted to have a peaceful and dignified death at a time of her choice without the risk of prosecution for anyone who helped her.” She lost a plea in a landmark ruling, where the state emphasized that while suicide was no longer criminalized, and that right to life, was a guarantee under the constitution, the constitution does not through these laws importa the right to die, even in tragic circumstances such as hers . The ruling further clarified that under the criminal law, suicide Act of 1993, section 2.2 made it an offense to assist in suicide, as it would be regarded as taking life.
In the case, Mrs. Fleming outlined the social, and economic hardship she endured in her everyday life, and the emotional, mental, and physical toll it had on herself, and her family. Essentially pointing out that her life was deprived of any sense of meaning, and autonomy. She outlined that she lived in unbearable pain and medication was only making it worse, as it exposed her to destressing effects . Her condition was not curable and she wanted to die in her own terms. Clearly showing that her case was extraordinary. During the proceedings it was indicated that “Her doctor had said her mind and forceful clarity were all she has left.” Implying to a consensus even among her care givers, giving her the ability to end her life was a priority to her.
In my opinion, extraordinary cases, such as Ms. Fleming’s case compel a course of action to be taken that will be of interest to the patient. The discourse as such, should be centered not on the deed, but on the measures taken to end life, providing that the patient and their family fully understand the impact of the decision. Ultimately, the patient being an adult of sound mind, has the freedom and right to make the decision on their own, provided the doctors see no means of reversing her condition and bringing her back to health . Taking measures that deprive the use of ordinary and extraordinary measures of care and substances that induce death is tantamount to infringement of personal freedom. It also subjects the patient to more suffering and pain as such making their remaining days on earth unbearable to them. This should especially be highlighted in cases of immense pain and suffering on the part of the patient, or in cases where her continued living may work to economically disadvantage the patient and her family, by making them incur more debt.
I believe that an individual’s right to die should not be defined as murder, but as an action of compassion on people who are suffering. But it should be subjected to medical evaluation, and become only applicable under extraordinary circumstances such as Ms. Fleming’s case. Factors that ought to be considered before allowing an individual assisted suicide include the evaluation of the physical and psychological conditions of the patient. Physical conditions if identified need to be irreversible, and affect the quality of patient’s life. They include; unbearable pain, incontinence, paralysis etc. They should be coupled with psychological factors such as depression, suicidal tendencies and ideations, feeling of being a burden, fear of loss in control of their self-awareness and dignity, increased dependency on others. This will also be coupled with lack of proper palliative care or inadequate capacity to support their living. Under this circumstances, assisted suicide becomes a legitimate avenue to consider, for the well being of the patient.

References
Fleming v Ireland and Others [2013] IESC 19, [2013] 2 IR 417.
Saunders, William. (1994). “Library: What Is the Church’s Teaching on Euthanasia?”. Catholicculture.Org. https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?id=307.
The Irish Times (2013) The Irish Times (2013). Right-to-die case woman Marie Fleming
dies aged 59: Multiple sclerosis sufferer lost landmark Supreme Court case this year. https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/right-to-die-case-woman-marie-fleming-dies-aged-59-1.1634252

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