A society that knows the the price of everything and the value of nothing is no place for euthanasia

When Parliamentarians debate the proposed legislation on assisted dying/euthanasia, the position that should be adopted is that of the most vulnerable person in our society. It should not be viewed through the eyes of the millionaire novelist but the elderly person, alone in a hospital bed without friends, family or support. Then add in factors like economic pressure on NHS resources and a growing lack of value for life generally and a more realistic picture emerges.

This society does not measure up well when it comes to how it treats its weakest and most vulnerable members. There is the appalling treatment of children at one end of the scale and the warehousing of elderly people for the benefit of an avaricious privately run care sector at the other. 

Prior to any debate on loosening the restrictions on euthanasia, there needs to be a much bigger discussion about what we have become as a society, how we treat the old, young and most vulnerable. If anyone believes that this society is mature enough to handle euthanasia then think again, look at the way the weakest members are treated and the increasing tendency to know the price of everything and the value of nothing

* published Independent - 18/7/2014