Spotted: Assisted-suicide story inspires thoughtful audience debate

The controversial assisted-suicide issue is making headlines again this week, as lawyers representing a 63-year-old British Columbia woman with a fatal neurodegenerative disease are asking the B.C. Supreme Court to grant her the right to a doctor-assisted suicide.

Gloria Taylor, a West Kelowna woman with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as ALS and Lou Gehrig's disease, says she wants her doctor to be able to help her end her life before she becomes incapacitated.
 
CBCNews.ca's coverage of Taylor's story got CBC audience members talking, and inspired some very thoughtful debate among people with strong opinions on either side of the assisted-suicide debate. Comments in support of assisted suicide were among the highest-rated.

• "There are illnesses that cause incredible pain and suffering in end stages. Mercy should be an option." - WilliamMillar.
• "If one is of sound mind and terminally ill this should be a personal choice option. Makes me think of when my mother died, a friend commented that we treat our sick animals better than we treat people in a lot of cases." - rock lake.
• "Canada, a country that prides itself on valuing life, but you cannot value life when you rob people of the dignity of death." - Aprilflowers.
• "15 years ago I would not have cared about this issue then I saw my father pass away with cancer. His last week was agonizing for him and us to watch. Although at the end of the day it was not about us it was about my father. He never mentioned or requested departing this world early in that final week however if he did I would have supported HIS decision. Now I support the right to die in dignity and I would want to have that choice when my day comes." - Peterrum.
• "We'd have no qualms about putting a sick horse or dog out of its misery, yet giving the same consideration to a human being is somehow wrong? ALS is a horrible disease. No one should have to endure that. A lucid person should be able to make the choice to end his/her life with the assistance of a physician." - Lava1964.

Interestingly, many of the CBC Community members who said they were against assisted suicide noted that they were not against suicide per se - just the idea of asking someone to help with the act. Others took issue with some of the animal analogies used above.

• "We cannot compare ourselves to animals." - areusuprised?
• "Why should this woman be forcing others to kill her? Why doesn't she just kill herself now, while she can? Personally, I would not want a doctor who has no qualms about killing on request." - AilinaC.
• "If somebody wishes to commit suicide before their terminal illness takes over their ability to do so, they can commit suicide without anybody's help. I am of the belief that those requesting for assistance are really just trying to feel better about their decision by getting it condoned by society." - lastkozak.
• "There is more of a risk that people will be harmed by changing this law than helped. I think many proponents of assisted-suicide have lost sight of this issue. If an individual wants to commit suicide, that is her right and she can exercise that right. It should NOT be legal for others to help do it." - asdfjkl.
• "My fear over this is that someone is going to decide my fate when maybe I can't convey my wishes at the time and do not want to die. It only opens a huge can of worms." - Bigfoot13.

Some of the most thought-provoking comments were submitted by those whose beliefs landed somewhere in the middle.

• "I have many mixed feelings about this: I don't believe in suicide, but I don't believe in prolonging agony. After 30 years working in healthcare, I am more inclined to believe that we treat our pets better than we do our loved ones. Give people dignity with quality of life - and if that means that we love them enough to stop their suffering and they want to go - why prolong misery?" - herewegoagain.
• "I'm even wondering if the word 'suicide' is problematic. Suicide is a tragic event that results from deep issues that could be addressed and healed. This is a different matter. Our language isn't precise enough." - P7not8.
• "The law preventing doctor assisted suicide appears to be religiously motivated and not based on human rights. Separation of church and government should be examined in the forthcoming legal process." - Mark 138.
• "This is a debate which will only heat up with the aging baby boomers. These are people who saw their own parents drift away bedridden with dementia, terminal illness, and anguish. No one wishes to burden their family and society, which is what will happen exponentially in the next decade. However, the boomers still do have the power to vote - expect assisted suicide to become an election issue soon." - big martini.
• "Ultimately, in a perfect world we would all enjoy great health and die peacefully, without suffering, in our sleep at 92! Alas, this is not a perfect world. I've always had a hard time with assisted suicide, but the older I get and the more suffering I see, I just don't know anymore. The things people are reduced to at the mercy of a relentless disease is cruel; and for the families to watch their loved ones go through this is horrific. Having a father in law recently diagnosed with Alzheimer's, I worry about the road that the family is on now. No person should suffer the way this woman is going to. ALS is a relentless monster." - RPMNut.

We thank you for your insightful comments about a genuinely complex issue. Your feedback really helped to elevate the discussion, and we look forward to reading more of your comments in future!