Tony Nicklinson has re-opened the old can of worms. Today he is in court requesting his right to die. Trapped in his body following an active life before it, he can no longer do anything but blink his eyes.
Mr
Nicklinson has had locked-in syndrome since a stroke seven years ago and the condition takes all movement from you, but leave you fully mentally aware and with all the intellect and knowledge you had before, it must truly be one of the most cruellest of things.
Having had an active life before and with full intelligence intact, the question is why should we not allow him to die? The main difference between Mr Nicklinson and previous cases is the key fact of ability, he is totally unable to administer the fatal dose, someone would have to do the task for him and that is key to the case. This of course would be murder.
As is always the case when these incidents hit the news, the term "playing god" appears, but what of this. Whether you are religious or not, doctors are and always have, played god. Why should doctors only be there for the better and never the worse?
The problem for most of us, we do not truly know the situation that Mr Nicklinson is in. We can imagine very easily perhaps, but to be fully aware? Never.
Think for a second about never being able to move again, never to speak, never with your own effort go outside into the sun. To kick a football. Pick up a newspaper. Pour that mug of tea. The simplest of things gone from you forever.
I would hope that the judges do the right thing in this case, but of course sadly this is very unlikely to occur.
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