Reasons to Live

YOU could be forgiven for forgetting, during the recent drama about Terri Schiavo, that assisted suicide is illegal in Florida-as it is in every state but Oregon. Commentators on the Schiavo case discussed whether a life like the one she had over the last 15 years is worth living or whether bringing about her death would be the right thing to do. They asked what her preferences were, or would be now. They debated whether Florida law was wise to give her husband Michael Schiavo the right to make the life-or-death decision.

But Florida law doesn’t recognize Mrs. Schiavo’s right to kill herself, let alone her husband’s right to make that choice for her. If she had (miraculously) recovered enough faculties to have been able to beg a physician to give her a lethal injection, and had done so, her wish could not legally have been granted. If she had recovered her faculties and then refused to eat or drink, the response of her caregivers would almost certainly have been to try to talk her into changing her mind.

About the Author

Ramesh Ponnuru

Ramesh Ponnuru is the editor of National Review, a columnist for the Washington Post, and a fellow at the American Enterprise Institute.

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Euthanasia

YOU could be forgiven for forgetting, during the recent drama about Terri Schiavo, that assisted suicide is illegal in Florida-as it is in every state but Oregon. Commentators on the Schiavo case discussed whether a life like the one she had over the last 15 years is worth living or whether bringing about her death would be the right thing to do. They asked what her preferences were, or would be now. They debated whether Florida law was wise to give her husband Michael Schiavo the right to make the life-or-death decision.

But Florida law doesn’t recognize Mrs. Schiavo’s right to kill herself, let alone her husband’s right to make that choice for her. If she had (miraculously) recovered enough faculties to have been able to beg a physician to give her a lethal injection, and had done so, her wish could not legally have been granted. If she had recovered her faculties and then refused to eat or drink, the response of her caregivers would almost certainly have been to try to talk her into changing her mind.