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Letters to the Editor
Published Online: 1 October 2004

Death With Dignity

Aida Mckellar, M.D.Authors Info & Affiliations
Publication: Psychiatric News
Volume 39, Number 19
https://doi.org/10.1176/pn.39.19.0390037d
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An article in the May 21 Houston Chronicle attracted my attention. It stated that M'Kubwa, an old gorilla, was having difficulty moving, suffered from declining health, and had lost his appetite. Because of his poor quality of life, zoo officials decided to euthanize him.
The article goes on to say that zoo employees talked to M'Kubwa, or Mac as he was called, and stroked him until he passed away. He was given a sedative and anesthesia to put him to sleep and a solution to stop his breathing.
This is such a wonderful way to leave this world when one's health has deteriorated to the point where a good quality of life does not exist anymore.
Indeed, Mac was given a dignified death while humans are deprived of this option. There are only a few nations such as Holland and Switzerland and one state (Oregon) that allow “death with dignity.”
The argument that is frequently given against physician-assisted death is that people who seek it are probably old and sick and suffering from depression and thus should be treated for depression and, if they are in pain, given pain medication.
However, very frequently even these interventions do not happen. Often very disabled people, such as those suffering from Huntingon's chorea or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, are placed in nursing homes and are cared for by lower-level health care staff. Many patients suffer from bed sores, and their joints are ankylosed from lack of use. Often they cannot ask for deliverance because they have become incompetent or mute. Death with dignity is their only solution.
It is time for APA and the AMA to voice their opinions in favor of death with dignity.

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Psychiatric News
Volume 39 • Number 19 • October 1, 2004
Pages: 37

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Published online: 1 October 2004
Published in print: October 1, 2004

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Aida Mckellar, M.D.
Houston, Tex.
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