Submission by Keeley Russell
Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide is the painless killing of a patient suffering from an incurable and painful disease. George and Betty Coumbias wanted to die together. The couple had been married for 50 years. George suffers from a heart disease, while his wife is in good health. Assisted suicide is illegal in Canada, so they requested their assisted suicide in Switzerland. They hoped they would be approved to end their lives. The couple was denied their request, since Betty was in good health. Switzerland government didn’t want to authorize lethal drugs to a health person. Two years after they requested to assisted suicide, Betty developed cancer and pasted away in 2009. George continues to live without his wife and his heart condition until his death in 2016. You can follow more of Betty and George story on John Zaritsky’s 2007 documentary The Suicide Tourist. Link provided at the bottom of the page.
The moral of this story is a couple that wanted to spend the rest of their life together. The article stated that Betty and George were inseparable for 50 years of marriage. The immoral side of would be ending of a healthy life. Betty had no incurable disease when they first requested. Once Betty developed cancer, I believed they should requested for assisted suicide again. An ethical theory, if both partners have an incurable disease then the couple can commit assisted suicide.
I believe that would should legalized euthanasia, especially for people who choose to end their lives without suffering. Betty and Georges’ story is very toughing. How a couple wanted to live until death due us part. I believe, that if Betty had developed cancer, or found the cancer earlier they would’ve been able to be approved for assisted suicide.