I respond to Rhonda Clarke's letter and the T-J's related article in the Dec. 22 paper.
That Rhonda Clarke is prepared to help someone commit suicide at a cost of going to jail for 14 years and leaving her 10-year-old daughter without the guidance of a mother, is lacking both love and reason.
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Willing to aid suicide
by Rhonda Clarke
St. ThomasLetter to the Editor appeared in the St. Thomas Times-Journal
I am writing this letter because I was sitting on my bed crying about a dear friend who as Lou Gehrig's disease and wants to die.
He just chokes all the time. I just returned from a two-day visit with him and he almost choked to death several times. If I hadn't been there when I was, he would not be here now.
He wants an assisted suicide because he is unable to do it himself and I am going to help him when he is ready. I could go to jail for up to 14 years for helping him commit suicide, so I think all the time to myself if I go to jail what about my family, and I always come to the same conclusion. If I must give up 14 years of my life to stop my friend from suffering, then so be it. I explained this to my 10 year-old daughter when she came in and saw me crying.
She put her hand on my shoulder and said write Santa a letter and ask him to change the laws. She said he can do anything because he is magic. Magic? Does Santa have more power than the highest courts? My friend doesn't have much time left if he is to die with dignity, which should be his choice, since he is a Canadian citizen and Canada is supposed to be known as a free country. See what you can do Santa. The courts have the power to destroy a lot of lives - terminally ill and health ones, too, if Santa can't help us.
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She says she wants to assist his (Erwin Krickhahn's) suicide, yet when she visited him, she saved his life. Mr. Krickhahn's own announcement in early November that he would kill himself and invite the media, then reversing his decision, complaining the media were insensitive to covering his story, seem only to show they want attention for themselves and promoting the cause of legalized euthanasia.
Oh, that we would learn a lesson from Holland where active euthanasia is now taken for granted. In a recent questionaire, it was estimated over 18,000 deaths occur as a result of euthanasia, which, if correct, would mean that every sixth death in Holland is due to euthanasia. (An accurate figure is not available as euthanasia is not often put as the official cause of death).
Many of these people are not terminally ill. Some generally accepted reasons for euthanasia are chronic disability, suffering that the patient finds intolerable and AIDS. Over 11 per cent of the deaths of AIDS patients is attributable to euthanasia. A recent study also showed many doctors had performed involuntary euthanasia (without request of the patient) for various reasons.
Mrs. Clarke, do you still want euthanasia in this nation? No one, even those with Lou Gehrig's disease, need to suffer an agonizing death. New, perfected forms of palliative care (care to relieve, conceal, or cloak pain) are making quick advances in Canada. In Holland, they are almost non-existent where euthanasia is practised instead.
The price of euthanasia is too high in every aspect to be thought seriously as a medical service, and must be rejected.
The great Scottish Reformer John Knox, who died in much pain and difficulty breathing, was asked if he felt much pain. He answered that he was willing to lie there for years, if God so pleased, as long as He continued to shine upon his soul through Jesus Christ.
And, finally, the battle was lost in Holland because the media were monopolized by the advocates of euthanasia. I pray that won't be the case in Canada.
P.S. For those interested, the St. Thomas & District Right to Life office has more information on euthanasia and palliative care issues.
