December 10, 2008
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I heard on the radio this morning, read in the paper this afternoon, that there is a documentary on TV tonight about euthanasia. Specifically it is the filming of one man’s assisted suicide in the Dignitas clinic in Switzerland. It will be the first documentary of a death. I don’t think I’ll be watching it. It has caused some controversy of course. The man’s wife has had to defend the programme, especially to critics who think it is some form of ‘reality TV’.
The parents of a 23 year old man who was paralyzed from the waist down after a rugby accident have been let off sentencing for the Suicide Act. They too paid to fly him over to Switzerland for an assisted suicide.
I’d do the same, if I had a loved one in the same position. I don’t want to watch it on TV though.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/north_yorkshire/7774652.stm
Comments (8)
A few years ago I read about Joë Bousquet. He became paralysed at 21 due to enemy fire.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jo%C3%AB_Bousquet
Very delicate issue.
killing onself just because one can’t walk seems a bit extreme. and sad. i would hope that i could still find meaning in my life even without the use of my legs.
Yes! I thought I responded to that. I’m glad you like that piece.
Did you get my response about how there is no particular terminology for that style of repetition I sometimes use, which you had asked me about?
Golly, I hope my email account is not glitching.
Now would be an especially inopportune tme for that, considering I’m applying for jobs, accepting submissions for Blood Pudding Press, etc…
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I agree with sassy’s comment above.
I agree with assisted suicide in certain instance, but just because you’ve been paralyzed?? That is sad that someone would commit suicide just because they couldn’t walk. Lots of people can’t walk! And then your family puts it on TV? Yikes.
That sounds like the most depressing program ever.
What does assisted suicide have to do with kids in china?
I think xing one’s self just because they’ve lost the use of their legs is a wee bit much. I could see it if they were a ventilator dependent quadrapalegic… but just paralized from the waist down? Seems extreme.
My cousin was a ventilator dependent quadrapalegic… that life sucks balls. After living that way for 15-16 yrs, he petitioned the court to have his ventilator shut off so he could die. I don’t blame him.
Will it be a series? This could be my chance to be a star!
@CandyDishDoom - Hey, no I didn’t get a reply to the email about that particular poem, but I did get the answer to my technique/style question. Hmmm. I don’t trust technology at the best of times…