Consider consequences of assisted-suicide law

Judging by recent letters (“Culture of death is so pervasive in society today,” Feb. 7), Tribune readers appear highly interested in issues of the day. One way of understanding euthanasia is to consider Europe, whose countries have been grappling with it for years. Some have embraced assisted suicide, while others have rejected it.

Within countries strongly endorsing this path, some doctors are having second thoughts. Concerns center on a clear-eyed evaluation of the effect of such policies on the nature and delivery of health care and upon the culture itself.

Doctors there have noted with alarm the steady broadening of conditions deemed appropriate for assisted suicide, as well as the lowering of the age of consent. Also, as the population becomes accustomed to this way of thinking, it becomes far easier to “eliminate” problems (so to speak) than to develop innovative solutions.

As Californians, we need to ask ourselves whether we are comfortable being a party to death by prescription of a depressed adult, a desolate teenager or a lonely senior. And our leaders must have the ability to consider the consequences of a law not only in the present but in the future, when social safeguards may be weaker and conditions less than ideal. Our protection depends on it.

This story was originally published February 23, 2016 at 8:24 PM with the headline "Consider consequences of assisted-suicide law."