Missouri Woman Pursues Medically Assisted Suicide in Switzerland
Gayle Hendrix, a 79-year-old woman from Missouri, has lived a good life according to her own standards. However, as she nears the end of her life, she wants to ensure that her goodness extends to her death. This means traveling to Switzerland, where she plans to pursue medically assisted suicide.
Before jumping to conclusions, it’s important to note that Hendrix is terminally ill. She has been battling lupus and an interstitial lung disease, leaving her completely dependent on oxygen and unable to walk more than a short distance. Her condition will not improve and this is as good as it will get for her.
Hendrix has always been a strong advocate for personal autonomy and now, facing her own mortality, she believes that this choice should extend to her end of life decisions. However, her decision raises a question that the medical community has been grappling with for decades – how do we ethically extend the value of personal autonomy to death?
Understanding Autonomy
In order to begin answering this question, we must first understand what autonomy means. It is defined as the right or condition of governing oneself. This right is the foundation of many laws that govern how we interact with each other as a society.
Without delving into other political and ethical issues, let’s look at a few examples of how the law supports autonomy. You have the right to own and operate your own business, but you also have the responsibility to pay your employees a fair wage. You have the right to own a home and make changes to it, but you cannot infringe on your neighbor’s property in the process.
Now, back to Gayle Hendrix and her desire to end her life on her own terms. Hendrix has always been a physically active person, but her illness has taken away her ability to move freely. She is now fully dependent on her oxygen tank to breathe. Despite this, she wants to maintain control over her own life and make the decision to end it when she sees fit.
As we continue to grapple with the ethical implications of personal autonomy in death, it’s important to remember that this right is a fundamental aspect of our society. Whether or not we agree with Hendrix’s decision, it’s crucial to respect her autonomy and her right to make choices for herself.
