The most fundamental human right

IT IS beyond disturbing that the President of the High Court has ruled that a hospital may withhold lifesaving treatment from a six-year-old boy, suffering from spastic quadriplegia, for whom there is no hope of recovery, but has not also included in his ruling a determination that following the withdrawal of treatment, that there will be no prosecution for those who bring the child’s life to a painless and peaceful ending by the quickest possible means.

In such a tragic case, the withdrawing of treatment is not the same as ending the patient’s suffering as it means the child is starved to death, because no one is allowed administer a lethal dose, which is past barbaric.

For those who object on religious grounds I would say, if there is a god, then I would hope that of all the people who will be met by the angels then this child is one. For those who object on medical grounds, I would say that as we have the knowledge to prolong a life only with machines, we must also use our knowledge to end a life by the most humane means possible.

The right to end one’s life at a time of one’s choosing is the most fundamental right any human should have and where making that decision is not possible, as with this child, then his guardians should be able to give their content for medical intervention that actively ends his suffering, without those who do so facing legal action as a consequence.

Desmond FitzGerald

Canary Wharf

London

England