Dignity in Dying
What an unpleasant and unkind comment from the Vatican in response to the sad death of Brittany Maynard, a young woman diagnosed with terminal brain cancer who decided to end her own life rather in a controlled manner, in preference to the disease overwhelming her mind and body.
Now I'm not sure if I would have the courage to make the same decision Brittany, if a similar things ever happened to me, I think I would, but what I do know is that I would like to have the choice of 'dying with dignity' which is available to citizens in Oregon.
And who could disagree with the words of Rev Dr Ignacio Castuera in which he said, most politely, that the Catholic Church has no right sticking its nose into other people's business.
My thoughts exactly.
My thoughts exactly.
Vatican condemns Brittany Maynard's decision to end her life as 'absurd'
Vatican's top bioethics official says 'dignity is something other than ending one's own life'
By HEATHER SAUL - The Independent
The Vatican has condemned cancer patient Brittany Maynard's decision to end her life, describing assisted suicide as an “absurdity”.
Ms Maynard, a vocal campaigner for the death with dignity movement, had been diagnosed with an aggressive malignant brain tumour on New Year's Day and given six months to live.
The 29-year-old died in Oregon on Saturday after taking a life-ending drug legally prescribed by her doctor.
In the weeks up to her death, Ms Maynard had publicly explained she wanted to die peacefully and with dignity – not in the way doctors had told her a brain tumour would bring her life to an end.
She went on to become a nationally recognised figure for the group Compassion & Choices, an end-of-life choice advocacy group, and re-ignited the debate on assisted suicide.
But the Vatican's bioethics chief told the ANSA news agency that "dignity is something other than putting an end to one's own life" and branded assisted suicide “reprehensible”.
Monsignor Ignacio Carrasco de Paula, head of the Pontifical Academy for Life, said: "This woman (took her own life) thinking she would die with dignity, but this is the error.
“Suicide is not a good thing, it is a bad thing because it is saying no to life and to everything it means with respect to our mission in the world and towards those around us.”
Father Carrasco de Paula cautioned that he was not judging individuals "but the gesture in and of itself should be condemned”.
The Vatican has condemned cancer patient Brittany Maynard's decision to end her life, describing assisted suicide as an “absurdity”.
Ms Maynard, a vocal campaigner for the death with dignity movement, had been diagnosed with an aggressive malignant brain tumour on New Year's Day and given six months to live.
The 29-year-old died in Oregon on Saturday after taking a life-ending drug legally prescribed by her doctor.
In the weeks up to her death, Ms Maynard had publicly explained she wanted to die peacefully and with dignity – not in the way doctors had told her a brain tumour would bring her life to an end.
She went on to become a nationally recognised figure for the group Compassion & Choices, an end-of-life choice advocacy group, and re-ignited the debate on assisted suicide.
But the Vatican's bioethics chief told the ANSA news agency that "dignity is something other than putting an end to one's own life" and branded assisted suicide “reprehensible”.
Monsignor Ignacio Carrasco de Paula, head of the Pontifical Academy for Life, said: "This woman (took her own life) thinking she would die with dignity, but this is the error.
“Suicide is not a good thing, it is a bad thing because it is saying no to life and to everything it means with respect to our mission in the world and towards those around us.”
Father Carrasco de Paula cautioned that he was not judging individuals "but the gesture in and of itself should be condemned”.
Brittany and her husband Dan on their wedding dayIn her final message to the world, Ms Maynard, who had moved from California to Oregon earlier this year to take advantage of the state’s right-to-die law, explained why she had chosen to end her life.
She wrote: “Today is the day I have chosen to pass away with dignity in the face of my terminal illness, this terrible brain cancer that has taken so much from me… but would have taken so much more.
“The world is a beautiful place, travel has been my greatest teacher, my close friends and folks are the greatest givers. I even have a ring of support around my bed as I type. Goodbye world. Spread good energy. Pay it forward!”
Compassion & Choices said she died peacefully as she intended, surrounded by her loved ones.
Rev Dr Ignacio Castuera, a board member of Oregon-based group, responded to the Vatican's comments by saying Ms Maynard was not Catholic and it would be wrong to impose a set of religious beliefs on people who did not share them.
She wrote: “Today is the day I have chosen to pass away with dignity in the face of my terminal illness, this terrible brain cancer that has taken so much from me… but would have taken so much more.
“The world is a beautiful place, travel has been my greatest teacher, my close friends and folks are the greatest givers. I even have a ring of support around my bed as I type. Goodbye world. Spread good energy. Pay it forward!”
Compassion & Choices said she died peacefully as she intended, surrounded by her loved ones.
Rev Dr Ignacio Castuera, a board member of Oregon-based group, responded to the Vatican's comments by saying Ms Maynard was not Catholic and it would be wrong to impose a set of religious beliefs on people who did not share them.
