Patient’s Choice to Die

Longmore’s article was touching and disturbing, but it sidestepped the most central issue.

There’s no doubt much of Bouvia’s misery is the result of society’s inhumanity. That doesn’t change the fact, however, that she is in pain, that the doctors force-feeding her are only increasing her pain, and that she wants to end it.

It amazes me how willing people are to take control of a human life in order to satisfy their own needs or those of the interest group they represent. Longmore’s feelings are easy to understand, but that doesn’t give him or anyone else the right to yank Bouvia around like some kind of puppet. Indeed, in placing their fear above Bouvia’s pain, Longmore and those like him are being fully as compassionless and selfish as any other members of our notably compassionless and selfish society.

Moreover, we can live no one’s life but our own. The person best qualified to understand Bouvia’s life experience is Bouvia herself. To believe otherwise is presumptuous. It is equally presumptuous to believe she is beholden to the handicapped community when making the most basic decisions about her own life.

Lives are to be lived, not controlled. That is why Bouvia must be allowed to end hers, if that is what she wishes. To refuse her is to devalue and dehumanize her even further.

MICHAEL FARQUHAR

Pasadena