“The Right To Die” Chapter 128

“I brought you into this world and I’ll take you out.” Who hasn’t been told that? Sometimes I wonder what the world would look like if this were true. Would we look at death differently? Would people with terminal illnesses continue to fight to stay alive?

If you lived in a “Right to Die” state, would you choose life or death? There are currently 11 Right to Die states. 

“A "right to die state" refers to a US jurisdiction (state or the District of Columbia) where physician-assisted suicide (also known as medical aid in dying or "death with dignity") is legal for terminally ill individuals. This means that in these states, a doctor can legally prescribe a lethal medication to a patient who meets specific criteria, such as having a terminal illness with a prognosis of six months or less, who makes a competent, voluntary request for such assistance.” 

However, there are restrictions that vary in each of these states. Let’s look at some of them.

Each state requires residency, but how long you need to have lived there varies... which is funny. You just received a terminal diagnosis with six months or less to live, and some states have an additional waiting period to actually receive the drug. So, if you decide to move and become a resident so you can be assisted, you might “die trying.” There might never have been a truer statement. 

D.C. is one of the eleven right to die states and I live 12 miles away.  It was only two years ago when I worked there 5 days a week and paid D.C. sales tax, and even my doctors at the VA hospital are there. I should get an exemption or something, right?

Self-Administration: The person must be able to self-administer and ingest the medication. Let’s think about this for an ALS minute. By the time I have less than six months left (which is a best guess), I will likely have to have help in order to administer everything.  With a feeding tube I can’t swallow and I'm paralyzed... HOW would I self-administer?

Competence: The person must be mentally competent and able to make and communicate their own healthcare decisions. 🤔 Hmm, are we though? Where would a medical directive fall into this? Would it affect my life insurance?

Voluntary and Informed Consent: The request for medication must be voluntary, without coercion, and based on informed consent. See underlined above.

Okay, now that we got past the legal considerations, let's discuss the Biblical ones. I was Saved on Father’s Day 2022. Faith is a big part of my ALS journey and I am not perfect (yes it’s true, I hope I didn’t ruin your image of me), and I'm still learning. However, I asked my brother and Google to provide me some guidance. Greg is a Pastor of many years and I consider him a SME (spiritual matter expert), but Google? Not so much.

Me: Is there anything in the Bible about suicide?

Google: “It is generally agreed that the prohibition of murder includes murder of oneself and therefore prohibits suicide. Christians are commanded to “love your neighbour as yourself.” (Matthew 22:39). This assumes that we have a basic level of self-love.”

Me: Is there anything in the Bible about assisted suicide?

Greg: I can’t think of any story in the Bible, where a person who helped to kill someone was thought of as a good person for helping him out. There was Job, and he often said that he wished he had never been born and wished he would just die instead of continuing to suffer. He would’ve been a good candidate for assisted suicide, but he never went through with it and he never asked anybody to help him commit suicide. He valued life that much.

Me: Ok I understand that. Let me ask differently. What does the Bible say about committing suicide? Is it a sin? If so, why can’t I take a pill and then pray for forgiveness?

Greg: “Yes. It is considered a sin. And to take a pill and then ask forgiveness before you die wouldn’t work because God knows what you really intended in your heart and that’s what he’s listening to.”

Me: Ok good point.

Is there any way it’s ok? Surely if God loves us, He doesn’t want us to suffer, right? I found this on Google.

Alleviating pain

The Bible clearly endorses pain relief for people who are close to death:

“Give strong drink to the one who is perishing and wine to those in bitter distress.”

Proverbs 31:6 ESV

Greg: Yep, I think that’s the same as palliative care.

Me: SO I CAN GET DRUNK?

WOW, that was like chewing on a tough piece of meat. In the end this is an individual choice and if you are in one of the 11 states you have more choices. What’s my choice? I am going to get drunk and keep fighting.

Love and Blessings 

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