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God and Good Death Concept

Philosophers have argued for centuries the concept of a "good death." Death being one of the realities that everyone in life must face regardless of their status is universal and, therefore, as a concept it affects us all. Suicide as an alternative has been with us since antiquity but it has been only recently that suicide as a legal right has begun to emerge as a matter of public debate.

The camps are split on the issue of legalized assisted suicide and those who argue that any form of suicide is morally wrong. Those favoring the legalization of assisted suicide believe that individuals should be able to control the time and circumstances of their death. Further, they argue that actively causing one's own death is no different than refusing life-saving treatment. Opponents argue vulnerable individuals, that is, those living in chronic pain or degenerative disease for example, are easily coerced into assisted suicide. They also argue that God, not humans, should decide the time for death.

Wherein lays the answer to this debate? If one adheres to the theological argument that only God can determine the moment and method of death there is no answer but if one takes a more humanistic viewpoint the answer lays in determining what constitutes proper consent.

The medical ethics literature has discussed the issue of valid consent endlessly and a consensus appears to be emerging. Valid consent is granted by an individual who is capable and informed and who is acting voluntarily.

Determining the capability of someone has been well established. There are tests used in a variety of settings such as court proceedings and mental hospital admissions that address one's capacity. The measurement processes used in such settings can easily be adapted in assisted suicides situations to determine the capacity of the person requesting the suicide option.

Similarly, providing potential assisted suicide individuals with all the information needed to qualify them as informed is a relatively easy process. Those providing treatment for whatever malady is creating the reasons for the suicide consideration are armed with volumes of information. Additionally, the afflicted patient has his or her own quality of life issues in her own consciousness to be of assistance.

It is the third prong of the analysis voluntariness that causes the most concern. Voluntariness is unfortunately a state of mind and, as such, it is impossible to ever be sure. State of mind is a purely personal thing and so impossible to measure but the physical expression of voluntariness is easier to ascertain.

In the legal arena consent is often a determining factor. It comes into play in determining the difference between theft and loans. It is the difference in determining whether an act is "having sex" or rape. Someone society finds a way to make a determination in these situations so why not in the case of assisted suicide?