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.

The most fundamental human right

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.

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