Maria Cheng and her ilk need to, as Tim Walz might say, "mind your own business". A relative of mine chose MAID and left this world on his own terms. His mobility rapidly declined over a period of 6 months and he despaired of losing his autonomy, of not being able to walk through his woods, enjoying nature, doing everything he loved. Before his diagnosis, he attempted suicide. That accelerated the hospital testing which a month later showed that he had ALS. But, had his condition been a chronic one that left him unable to walk or lift his arms, he would have still chosen MAID. He was a wealthy man and could have arranged for round the clock care by an army of health care providers, but that would not have prevented his own personal agony of losing autonomy. But, the Maria Cheng's of this world would like to see him continue in that agony.
Thank you for taking a breath and clarifying what I struggled to put into words.
Maria Cheng and her ilk need to, as Tim Walz might say, "mind your own business". A relative of mine chose MAID and left this world on his own terms. His mobility rapidly declined over a period of 6 months and he despaired of losing his autonomy, of not being able to walk through his woods, enjoying nature, doing everything he loved. Before his diagnosis, he attempted suicide. That accelerated the hospital testing which a month later showed that he had ALS. But, had his condition been a chronic one that left him unable to walk or lift his arms, he would have still chosen MAID. He was a wealthy man and could have arranged for round the clock care by an army of health care providers, but that would not have prevented his own personal agony of losing autonomy. But, the Maria Cheng's of this world would like to see him continue in that agony.
Thanks for the analysis. I've yet to come across an argument against assisted death that I find even close to persuasive.