Avvenire.it, March 8, 2011 - BIOETHICS AND POLICY - Euthanasia, temptation global Lorenzo Schoepflin
While in Italy the law on the choice of end Life takes its first steps in the classroom of Deputies - after the approval of the Senate two years ago - in some countries re-emergence of euthanasia through episodes of the news that rekindle the comparison among the public. As in our country, are dramatic events to mark the debate on freedom and its limits on the availability or otherwise of human life, its dignity in the face of extreme situations. This confirms that, like it or not, the question of the limits set by law to every possible result of euthanasia or - conversely - the green light to practices that nourish exists throughout the world and requires clear ideas on the principles as on the instruments. Knowing what happens in India or Australia is not a way to satisfy a curiosity, but to be aware that the principle of the inviolability of human life in its terminal phase is called into question everywhere. And everywhere - as well as in Italy - there are those who are fighting to keep it.
INDIA: SUPREME COURT 'SAVE' DEATH BY ARUN
Indian Supreme Court - the country's highest judicial authority - with a landmark ruling yesterday decided to reject the request for euthanasia a nurse for 37 years living in a vegetative state. The decision by the highest court was taken following a request made per Aruna Shanbaug, 63 anni, che dal 1973 è ricoverata al Kem Hospital di Mumbai per lo stato vegetativo nel quale è caduta dopo che un minorenne, nel tentativo di violentarla all’interno dello stesso ospedale, aveva stretto attorno al suo collo una catena di acciaio che le interruppe l’afflusso di ossigeno al cervello. Emanando la sentenza, la Corte si è congratulata con l’ospedale e i suoi operatori per «l’affettuosa attenzione» dedicata alla donna. «La Chiesa è soddisfatta e sollevata dal fatto che la Corte abbia respinto la richiesta di eutanasia» ha dichiarato ad Avvenire il cardinale Oswald Gracias, arcivescovo di Mumbai e presidente della Conferenza episcopale indiana.
The event was a huge relief after the Indian press that the federal government had categorically rejected the possibility of euthanasia, as opposed to the recommendations issued by the Council of national legislation designed to allow terminally ill people the choice to voluntarily put an end to their suffering. The State Attorney General, GE Vahanvati, clarified that the Western criteria of euthanasia can not be accepted by the culture and the common sentiment in India, stating in his speech in opposition to demand that "we do not we push towards our death parents or our children, even if terminally ill. Who can decide whether someone should live or die? Who knows if tomorrow will be a cure for something now considered medically incurable? Besides, a decision to the contrary is not frustrated medical research pro-life? ".
As soon as the news reached the no to the "sweet death" - given by some friends of the nurse that she wanted to "end the suffering and the right to a dignified death" - and her colleagues Kem Hospital staff celebrated in front of the cameras and photographers 'victory'. The legal representative of the Kem Hospital, which he edited for 37 years Shanbaug despite the total lack of interest of the family, era opposto alla domanda di eutanasia.
Il rigetto della richiesta ha però anche avuto qualche ombra. Dichiarando che «l’eutanasia attiva è illegale», la Corte Suprema infatti ha affermato di non essere contraria a una «eutanasia passiva» che potesse permettere ai malati terminali una morte controllata, nei modi da essa stessa stabiliti. Questa nota del tribunale al suo verdetto ha «deluso» il cardinale Gracias, che ha spiegato come «autorizzare qualcuno a morire equivalga ad accondiscendere al suo volersi togliere la vita». Il distinguo della Corte si è infatti concretizzato in una raccomandazione al governo affinché emani una regolamentazione legislativa che ponga rigide regole all’«eutanasia passiva» controllata dai tribunali.
Veerappa Moily, ministro della Giustizia indiano, si è mostrato molto cauto sulle raccomandazioni della Corte, affermando che «il diritto alla vita è intrinseco alla persona umana, e dunque è indispensabile un approfondito dibattito in materia». Pur prendendo atto dell’esistenza di «considerazioni umanitarie» a supporto delle richieste di eutanasia, ha poi ribadito che «essa non deve diventare strumento di morte». Anto Akkara
SPAGNA: MADRID LAVORA ALLA «FINE DEGNA»
Spain is preparing to approve a new law on palliative care, but there are several ingredients that contribute to a climate of confusion. What is the purpose of the law? The target announced by the government of José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero seems noble and urgent: to ensure the proper palliative care to terminally ill persons, assist their families, sick and family support during a difficult phase by giving them the right to information and to reject any aggressive treatment. But the recipe English plus other items. First lot of linguistic ambiguity: in the country when it refers to the site in accordance with one speaks of "dignified death" (euphemism che sottintende l’eutanasia). L’esecutivo di Zapatero ha detto esplicitamente che non ha intenzione di legalizzare l’eutanasia, ma al termine dell’ultima legislatura i socialisti hanno inserito questo tema nella loro campagna elettorale. Il timore sollevato da numerose organizzazioni per la vita è proprio questo: la legge sulle cure palliative non sarà un primo spiraglio per aprire le porte – in futuro – a una vera e propria normativa che legalizzi l’eutanasia?
Gli ultimi a fare riferimento a questo spinoso argomento sono stati i vescovi iberici. Al termine della 97esima assemblea plenaria, la settimana scorsa, il portavoce della Conferenza episcopale monsignor Antonio Martinez Camino ha ricordato che la legge deve «rispettare il diritto fondamentale alla vita di tutte le persone»: una nuova condanna dell’eutanasia e un appello alla difesa dei più deboli, malati o non nati. Secondo Gador Joya, portavoce della piattaforma associativa «Diritto di Vivere», è tutta una questione di strategia: dopo la valanga di critiche che hanno travolto la riforma dell’aborto (come hanno dimostrato le grandi manifestazioni di piazza), il governo di Zapatero non avrebbe osato presentare «direttamente una legge per depenalizzare l’eutanasia. Ma bisogna restare vigili, perché stanno cominciando a introdurla». L’esecutivo di Zapatero, secondo Joya, sta doing "a dangerous game language to mask the first steps towards the introduction of euthanasia in Spain." In Parliament, the Socialists have ensured that "there will be no legalized euthanasia or assisted suicide" (as it claims the radical left). But a slice of English society anxiously ask: how long? Michael Coricelli
U.S.: RACHEL MAY NOT 'Allow the tube, the judge DISCONNECTION
As highly controversial, the U.S. suspension of hydration and nutrition to patients in vegetative state is unfortunately practiced when they have left no advance directives for treatment. Terri Schiavo became a case just because the decisions made by her husband, legal representative, found the opposition of the parents in court. But these days another case is showing the dangers that may arise under the identification of "best interest" of the patient by the legal representative.
Nyirahabiyambere Rachel is a teacher of 59 years, survived the genocide in Rwanda and a long breakaway in the jungles of Congo. Since 2008 she lives in the USA with a residence permit made him get the children, already living in America as refugees. To assist the grandchildren Rachel has given up a job and health insurance and residing in the U.S. for less than five years, is also excluded from the program "Medicaid." Everything went well until April 2010 when a stroke has made it fall into a coma and then in a vegetative state. After the acute phase, the hospital at Georgetown University in Washington has sought to discharge but the children were not able to provide assistance at home or even to pay for admission to a nursing home. When the suggestion of sending him back to Rwanda has been rejected, the judge appointed in December, a legal representative, Andrea Sloan. Despite the protests of the children, Sloan has ordered the transfer of Rachel section for the terminally ill in a nursing home, while the hospital (Christian-inspired) has agreed to bear the expenses for hospitalization. But the nursing home on February 19, stayed patient and the nutrition of two weeks waiting for Rachel's death. The New York Times, who discovered the case, criticized the lack of heart of the American health care system by reopening the debate on the controversial clauses for assistance to terminally ill patients in the health reform under Obama, who was forced to promise at the time that "the Grandma has not been pulled the plug. "
Sloan said that in the absence of declarations anticipate, toccava ai familiari dimostrare che Rachel avrebbe preferito continuare a vivere in quelle condizioni. Il figlio ha ribattuto che «nella nostra cultura noi non condanneremmo una persona a morire di fame», ma la Sloan gli ha rinfacciato che la nutrizione assistita non fa parte della cultura africana.
Per difendere il profitto delle strutture sanitarie non si è esitato a ribaltare la presunzione dell’esistenza di un istinto a vivere, salvo dimostrazione del contrario: una presunzione che, in assenza di chiare manifestazioni di volontà, suggerisce di optare per la vita, visto che l’altra soluzione è irreversibile. Si dirà che una simile vicenda in Italy would not be possible because the assistance would not have been denied. It's true: the yearning for solidarity from us is much stronger. However, just as the House begins debate on Dat, perhaps it is legitimate to question the powers of the "trustee" for if not to pass the clause for which decisions must have "for the sole purpose of safeguarding the health and life of the incapacitated "we may soon realize that instead of the" best interests "(defined by others), risk assessments into the decision-making process that have nothing to do with the clinic, and even less respect for life. Gian Luigi Gigli
AUSTRALIA: DOCTOR DEATH Nitschke tries again
Despite the legalization of euthanasia in Australia do not make progress - in South Australia and Tasmania have recently rejected laws - Philip Nitschke ( known as "Dr. Death") does not give up. The director of Exit International, the organization that fights in the world for the "sweet death", has made known its intention to implement a clinic where to find the appropriate assistance to die. According to Nitschke, the legalization of euthanasia in Australia's only a matter of time: so soon we will need a ad hoc structure. The clinic should arise in Adelaide or Hobart and is not intended to cause death of the patient within their premises, "Patients will receive information and materials that are necessary to end his days at home," said Nitschke.
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