Words matter in assisted suicide
UK society changes its name
Another euthanasia lobby group has rebranded itself. SOARS, The Society for Old Age Rational Suicide, a lobby group based in the United Kingdom, has renamed itself My Death, My Decision. “Suicide” is a word that nearly all campaigners avoid as it carries negative connotations.
In 2009 SOARS split from another UK group, Dignity in Dying, which is currently the largest UK assisted dying lobby group. The issue was at what point it should be legal to request assisted suicide. Dignity in Dying settled for the voter-friendly time of six months’ life expectancy for a terminally ill person.
SOARS, however, insisted that there should be no time limit, as many people are left incurably suffering for longer than six months. It wants to make it possible for people to request death when they feel that their lives are complete.
Dignity in Dying has also rebranded itself – several times. Founded in 1935 as The Voluntary Euthanasia Legalisation Society, it became the Euthanasia Society in 1960, the Voluntary Euthanasia Society in 1969, Exit in 1979, reverting to the Voluntary Euthanasia Society in 1982, and evolving into Dignity in Dying in 2005.
The most prominent American group has followed a similar trajectory. The Hemlock Society was founded in 1980; in 2003 it became End of Life Choices; and in 2004 Compassion & Choices.
Michael Cook is editor of MercatorNet. This article has been cross-posted from BioEdge, which he also edits.
Asked by the editor of a Canadian student newspaper recently what single piece of advice she would give today’s students, Professor Margaret Somerville thought long and hard. Eventually the answer bubbled up from her unconscious:
“You should be open to experiencing amazement, wonder and awe, in as many situations and as often as possible”.
This is not quite you would expect from one of today’s bioethicists (that is her field), who tend to be of a utilitarian bent, but it is not so surprising coming from a regular MercatorNet contributor. Dr Somerville adds,
“I’m hoping from such experiences we will again be open to re-enchantment of the world, by which I mean see beyond its immediate physical reality to the mysteries at its core.”
Read about the things that do this for her, and the implications for both religious and secular minded people – and be inspired.
Carolyn Moynihan
Deputy Editor,
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