To the Editor
New York Times
Scheduled for Publication 11/4 - 11/5/2012
In his essay of October 28th, “Four Myths About
Doctor-assisted Suicide”, October 27, 2012, 2:45
Ezekiel Emanuel uses a flawed rationale to challenge the legitimacy of
assisted suicide While he seems to agree that it would be acceptable in cases
of severe, intractable physical pain, he suggests that it is not legitimate if
motivated by emotional pain or depression.
The appropriate response in such cases, he maintains, is to provide
“counseling and caring”. As a retired
Clinical psychologist, I must point out that there is a vast difference between
the depression of a terminally ill patient, who realistically perceives his or
her situation to be hopeless, and a physically healthy patient suffering from
clinical depression. In the latter
case, feelings of worthlessness and hopelessness are the product of
demonstrably inaccurate perceptions of self and circumstances - mental
distortions produced by the illness itself.
For such individuals, appropriate treatment can produce marked
improvement. The same cannot be said for terminally ill patients whose feelings
of hopelessness are, sadly, all too realistic and whose depression is often a
normal response to a disheartening reality.
While “counseling and caring” can provide comfort, they cannot change
the reality of a patient whose quality of life has diminished to the point that
each day is just another round of frustration and pain - be it physical or
emotional. If I should become
terminally ill, I would not want to cede to a third party the right to
determine when my life is no longer worth living.
James Hawthorne, PhD
2418 Pickwick Rd.
Baltimore, MD 21207
443-813-2100
