According to yahoo news Christian Rossiter, the Australian quadriplegic who recently won a landmark court case allowing him to refuse food and water from his nursing home died Monday. his brother Tim said he succumbed to a chest infection.
“I thank all those who have made Christian’s life, in his final years, as comfortable and as dignified as possible,” Tim said in a statement.
“Death I suspect comes as quite a relief for Christian,” Rossiter’s lawyer, John Hammond, told Seven Network television. “I think Christian will be remembered as someone who was very brave and took up a fight which will give a lot of people comfort.” Hammond said the ruling was not about euthanasia, but about giving people the right to refuse treatment if they are dying.
He was finally granted the right to refuse food and hydration after having to take the matter to court. I was so glad for him when he won, but so sad that we still live in a society where people are not allowed the right to a painless death at the time of their choosing rather than being left to suffer.
I do not know if Christian would have chosen euthanasia had he the right to do so, but I feel ashamed that he did not get to make that decision for himself.
I can only imagion that euthanasia would have been a “nicer way to go” than starving and dying of thirst.
A while ago I had the heartbreaking experience of holding my best friend in my arms while the vet gave him a leathal injection to end his suffering – my dog was dying of cancer and whilst I could have had a few more weeks with my old friend I chose a peacful pain free death for him, rather than watch the cancer destroy him day by day while he suffered in pain.
Why do I not have the right to assist my human loved ones or to support their choice in this same way?
I hope one day euthanasia will be legal – what do YOU think?