Right to Die

Right to Die

By Michael Leshinski

Much as been said on the topic of assisted suicides, euthanasia and the right to die, especially during the Kevorkian era of the late 1990s. Since Kevorkian’s prison sentence and recent parole, the subject has been placed on the backburner. Although it has never really left, the hot topic has resurfaced this time in Germany. Doctor-assisted suicides are not legal in the United States, with the exception being the state of Oregon. However, no German law currently exists against the aiding of suicide. On the other hand, mercy killing and euthanasia are not legal in Germany. Some would say, what's the difference? Well, The New York Times reported yesterday that German Chancellor Merkel is pushing for new laws against the advertising of assisted suicide after a German right to die proponent has publicly boasted of success. Apparently, Roger Kusch, wants to be the German Jack Kevorkian. However, there are many more factors working in Kusch’s favor, including the fact that he is an attorney who knows how to stay within legal limits of assisting suicide.

Kusch made national news in Germany by assisting in the suicide of a 79 year old lady, who did not wish to live anymore. According to the Times, the elderly woman was in relatively good condition for a person of her age. Instead, she opted for suicide because she was afraid to move into a nursing home and was tired of living a life of solitude. What a choice, death or nursing home?! If Germans really want to die, all they have to do is cross the border into Switzerland, where there are (tolerant) basically no laws on the books against it. In typical Swiss neutrality, the government allows institutes to perform the “service”. This story is bound to stir up some controversy throughout the world and America since it is a seemingly irresolvable debate just like abortion and gay marriage.