Initiative 1000 does not recognize dignity

LETTER

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The proponents of Initiative 1000 would have us believe that assisted suicide offers us "death with dignity." Implicit in this argument is the frightening premise that human dignity, rather than being something inherent, can be diminished by suffering and dependence on others to the point where one's life is no longer worth living.

Medical science holds a place of high authority in our society. Forcing it to give its blessing to such twisted logic has dangerous consequences that we should not hide behind a smiley-faced moral autonomism.

Rather than giving up on their lives, we should uphold the dignity of the suffering and needy, using medicine to alleviate the pain of the dying rather than to kill them.