Patient’s Choice to Die
Longmore brings out that it is the emotional blows and distress caused by Elizabeth Bouvia’s financial problems, her brother’s death, loss of her marriage and child, and the discrimination in graduate school motivated her wish to die, not necessarily her disability. Anybody, disabled or not, suffering that many setbacks, might want to die.
If Bouvia were an able-bodied person would the American Civil Liberties Union lawyers be as eager to help her in her wish to die? Would the 2nd District Court of Appeal be as quick to have the feeding tubes removed? Is Bouvia a less valuable person because she has a disability?
Elizabeth Bouvia needs all the support she can get to begin to live again. She can do it.
JYNNY RETZINGER
Reseda
Retzinger is regional director of the California Assn. of the Physically Handicapped.
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