Here's another point to consider:
The world needs PTSD survivors. Yes, I contend it needs us.
Think about a world where people could be traumatized and then get help to end their lives as a solution to the deep wounds and costs of that trauma.
That's not good for society as a whole. It's sends the unintentional message that if someone can't handle the deep pain of trauma that society failed to stop from happening, well then here's a doctor who can help you end your life...
Many movements to end many traumatic things on this planet were started, if not lead, by people who had survived trauma and were forever changed by it. They stood up to make a difference, because they understood at the deepest levels the life long costs of trauma and abuse.
I know some of the founders of a chapter of a group called Bikers Against Child Abuse. This amazing group is making a profound difference for many kids. Many of the members are survivors of child abuse and enduring lifelong consequences from it themselves.
They are the ones with the motivation, the heart conviction, the understanding to go out and protect kids who are testifying against their abusers. They show up (if requested) outside the homes of the kids and show that child they are protected and peacefully stand guard at their homes at night. If he kid starts to get scared, they can look out the window and see a row of bikers guarding their hours. They line the streets outside of courthouses so that the kids see their support as they are driven to the courthouse.
It changes kids and adults in very deep ways.
Why do these bikers do this? Because many of them know the difference something like this would have made for themselves.
Laws are a way of a society saying here is what we value and what we don't value. Instead of trying to help people end their lives, as a society, we should be sending a difference message.
Is this subject of assisted suicidie for people with PTSD legally going away? Probably not any time soon for any country. It may get defeated this go-around but as the encomony tanks and health care costs go up, and as the choices to treat PTSD get more expensive, the more desperate people will get and the more that some may pursue this idea.
But the importance a society working to keep PTSD sufferers around and alive isn't going anywhere either.
Plus, I don't see the practical gain in making this legal.
I don't support suicidie - physician assisted or otherwise. But if people want to end their own lives their own ways, by themselves, then they have the legal right to do that already. I don't judge anyone who chooses that option on their own.
But by making it legal for doctors to help we would be sanctioning it as a society and saying "this is ok" and we can't afford the deep cost of sending that message. It's not just about adults who have been traumatized, but kids too. They need to grow up in a world where we will fight to protect them, not send the unintentional message that their life is not worth living if they are shaken to the core by trauma. We need to send the message that their life matters, period.
Ok, soapbox over.
