A Society For The Prevention of Cruelty To Humans

Who was Debbie? If you missed her death notice, she was the world’s oldest polar bear at Winnipeg’s Assiniboine Park Zoo, who died at 41 years of age. Due to a number of strokes, zoo keepers decided Debbie had suffered enough and painlessly ended her life. But unlike the polar bear, a friend of mine recently experienced an agonizing death which has prompted this column.

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I’ve often written that if I were allowed a committee to oversee my final hours I’d want a veterinarian to be part of that group. I’m hoping he or she would treat me the same way as Debbie, or a loving pet. Critics of active euthanasia say that allowing lethal injection for those who only have days or hours to live is the start of “the slippery slope” theory. They argue that it wouldn’t be long before people decided to get rid of grandmother for any number of reasons. Others claim it’s God’s wish that we suffer at the end of our lives. Or since we have a higher functioning brain, we can’t be treated the same way as animals. But the “slippery slope” theory hasn’t occurred in countries such as Holland and Switzerland both of which allow active euthanasia. In fact, the opposite has happened. Fewer people have requested to end their lives this way than was expected. Besides, common sense safeguards have been passed to prevent abuse of this privilege or any conflict-of-interest. The best prevention is to be allowed to pick your own end-of-life committee. After all, who would choose an arch enemy who prefers you dead? What about my friend’s reaction to euthanasia? During the early part of his suffering I posed this question, “Would you like to go to Switzerland to end your days before life becomes difficult and while you’re still able to travel? If so, I will go with you”. But he refused. He did not like the idea of dying by lethal injection. I realize that many others share this view for many reasons and I have no problem with this decision. But in a democratic society I believe we should all be allowed a choice. I was at the hospice in the last days of my friend’s death. He received excellent treatment as hospice personnel are very compassionate people. But there is a limit to what loving care can do as death approaches and the body struggles to live, but is rapidly failing. During these final days of struggle, he told me he had changed his view and wished hospice doctors could end his life by lethal injection. When imminent death was approaching I happened to witness Sarah McLachlan singing on T.V. in support of The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Her effort on behalf of this society has raised 30 million dollars. My congratulations to her as I, and I’m sure many readers, have a particular loathing for humans who mistreat animals. Since my friend’s final agony, I keep asking myself “What about human suffering in the final days of life when there is no hope of recovery?” When my friend realized his time had come, he pleaded that doctors would end his suffering. Since I cannot sing, I’ve also wondered how much money could be raised by another high profile star to start “The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Humans”, an organization that would ask legislators to pass laws similar to those used in Holland and Switzerland where lethal injection is controlled and allowed. I can’t answer this question and I’d appreciate your opinion. My e-mail, “ gifford-jones@hotmail.com”. In the meantime I’m pleased that at least Debbie had a peaceful death with her doting keepers around her. She was obviously loved by all as tributes poured in from around the world. For humans the only way to prevent some end-of-life suffering is to sign a Living Will. It can be a serious mistake not to have one. The Gifford-Jones Living Will can be obtained by sending $15.00 and a self-addressed stamped envelope to Dr. Gifford-Jones, 1 First Canadian Place, P.O. Box 119, Toronto, Ontario, M5X 1A4.