Tales of the Talking Tiger

At a conference two weeks ago, one of the speakers made a very good point (related to death, but not particularly related to the conference topic!) Advocates of euthanasia (e.g. Philip Nitschke of Exit International) assume that when a life is voluntarily ended (what a euphemism), the one being euthanised (another great euphemism) will go to a better place. Candidates for euthanasia are usually suffering from a terminal illness, and in a great deal of pain. There is an assumption that following death, their situation will improve. If this were not the case, there would be no advocates for euthanasia. Yet they can provide no evidence supporting the conclusion that death will result in a better, rather than worse, outcome.

In the next election, Nitschke is standing against Workplace Relations Minister, Kevin Andrews. He claimed recently that “the sentiments haven’t changed in the electorate; most people want voluntary euthanasia legislation.”

I don’t think most people necessarily want voluntary euthanasia legislation. I am confident that all people want certainty about what will happen to them when they die.