Firstly, it is necessary to discuss some of the relevant and significant points of the case. Sue Rodriguez is a mother in her forties, suffering from Lou Gehrig's disease. Her life expectancy is several months, however her condition is deteriorating quickly. Soon, she will no longer be able to swallow, speak, walk or move, and she will require a respirator in order to breath. She will be bedridden. Sue Rodriguez is aware of her situation and knows that death is inevitable, however, she wishes to control her circumstances, and her time and manner of death. By the time Sue is no longer able to enjoy life, she will be physically unabl

I certainly agree with the ideologies of Patrick Nowell-Smith. His arguments are justified, fair and legitimate. A person who is terminally ill and is suffering greatly should be able to make the decision if they should die. Life is meant to be enjoyed, and when someone is suffering from so much pain and helplessness, it is almost impossible to enjoy life. It would be much easier to see someone at rest, then to see someone have to endure and tolerate such strong discomfort. Many people have been so close to death, however the law prohibits them from putting an end to their life, and therefore ceasing the pain they are feeling. I also agree on his notion that active euthanasia might in fact be equal on a moral scale to passive euthanasia, pending certain cases. Stopping all forms of medication to an ill patient, so that they eventually die, might actually cause them to experience more pain than they would if they we killed by injection. I feel euthanasia laws should be modified and a person who is in a state that is only going to get worse should be allowed to request that he end his life. I can see the importance that it must be voluntary, however passive or active should remain his decision, depending on his situation. The Canadian Charter states that everyone should have equal rights in life, it therefore makes sense that they should be able to control their life too.

e to terminate her life with out assistance. Sue is not requesting that her death be caused by active euthanasia, which would be by means of a doctor physically ending her life with some form of injection. She is asking that a qualified medical physician set up a certain technological system that would allow her, if she chose to, end her life with her own hand. This is passive euthanasia, as it allows the victim herself to control the time and manner of her own death. The Criminal Code includes a section regarding the idea of suicide that the judge lays before her in an attempt to defy her wishes. Section 241 states that "Every one who counsels a person to commit suicide or aids or abets someone to commit suicide, whether suicide ensues or not is guilty of an indictable offense and liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding fourteen years." (Koggel, 5). Sue rebuts this argument be stating that the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms entails that "everyone has the right to life,

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Approximate Word count = 1609
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)