[Annotated] Dying with dignity is the biggest shift in morality in a generation

Canada's example has lessons for other countries, says Steven Fletcher

What it means to be alive versus living a full life are^[각주:1] not abstract thought exercises to me. In 1996, at the age of 23, I became a quadriplegic^[각주:2]. As a recent engineering graduate from the University of Manitoba, driving to work at a mining job, I hit a moose with my car. In an instant I was completely paralyzed from the neck down. 

Moose are not part of the normal human experience anywhere else. But in many parts of Canada there are far more moose than there are hockey players. This enormous, majestic^[각주:3], stupid creature ran in front of my vehicle and went through the windshield^[각주:4]. This quintessential^[각주:5] Canadian car accident was described in my auto insurance as^[각주:6] "An Act of God." Really? God? What kind of God would allow something like this to happen to me or anyone else?

What does it mean to be a quadriplegic? In my case, it is complete paralysis from the neck down. I cannot feel my body below the neck. No pain. No pleasure. No heat. No cold. No diaphragm to breathe^[각주:7]. Nothing. All that remains is a continuous burning from nerve endings^[각주:8] meeting a disconnected spinal cord^[각주:9]. 

The practical result is the need for 24-hour care, no privacy for any bodily functions^[각주:10] or getting dressed, or anything else that I took for granted^[각주:11], including my freedom, not the political freedom, but freedom to use my body to live life. And then there's pain, physical pain. The kind of pain where you think your head is going to explode and would give anything for such an explosion if the pain would just stop. The emotional pain never dies. 

There are many practical issues. Who is going to pay for the 24-hour care? Will I be institutionalized^[각주:12]? Will I be a burden on^[각주:13] my family or society? How about life's pleasures?

I was able to find some solutions. In 2004 I became the first permanently disabled member of the Canadian Parliament. In that time I learned the value of life can be measured in many ways. In my first federal election I was asked on the radio why would anyone vote for Steven Fletcher versus the other guys? My response: "The people... would rather have someone paralyzed from the neck down than the neck up." 

In 2013, after nine years as a cabinet minister, parliamentary secretary^[각주:14] and shadow minister for health^[각주:15] while in opposition, I found myself no longer shackled by the bonds of^[각주:16] cabinet^[각주:17] solidarity^[각주:18] and party discipline^[각주:19]. As a backbench^[각주:20] Tory, I was able to finally introduce the private members' bills into parliament that^[각주:21] ultimately resulted in the changes in the law that ended the prohibition on^[각주:22] medical assistance in dying in Canada. 

The first bill legislated for^[각주:23] assistance in dying^[각주:24]. The second bill was for gathering empirical evidence on^[각주:25] the how, why, when, where, and who takes part in^[각주:26] an end of life procedure under^[각주:27] the premise that^[각주:28] good data lead to better public policy. 

If a person is diagnosed with^[각주:29] a terrible terminal illness^[각주:30], or is in intolerable pain^[각주:31], why force that person to suffer?

It should be clarified that there is a big difference between suicide, euthanasia^[각주:32], and dying with dignity. Suicide is self-inflicted^[각주:33]. Euthanasia is ending life without consent^[각주:34], as may be the case with an ill pet animal. Dying with dignity is neither suicide nor euthanasia; it is respect for the individual^[각주:35]. 

Society should not view end-of-life measures as a budgetary way to^[각주:36] reduce costs. Those who wish to live should be given the opportunity to do so and to live meaningful, productive lives and reach their full potential as a human being. To do anything less is cruel and not consistent with the values of^[각주:37] Western civilization. 

But individuals of sound mind must be allowed to make their own decisions for themselves. An adult who, for very good reasons, consents to die should have that right. Frostbite^[각주:38] would not be a good reason. 

In a liberal democracy we don't try and dictate how people should live so why does society try to dictate how people should die? Dying with dignity is the greatest shift in morality in Canada in this generation. As long as the shift is in context of empathy^[각주:39], compassion^[각주:40], choice, hope and common sense^[각주:41] other countries should learn from our example. 

1. what it means to be ; ~하는 것이 무엇인지 [본문으로]
2. quadriplegic ; [명사] 사지 마비 환자 ;; [NOUN] A quadriplegic is a person who is permanently unable to use their arms and legs. [본문으로]
3. majestic ; [형용사] 장엄한, 위풍당당한 ;; 유의어 awe-inspiring, splendid ;; [ADJ] If you describe something or someone as majestic, you think they are very beautiful, dignified, and impressive. [본문으로]
4. windshield ; (자동차 등의) 앞[전면]유리 ((바람막이용)) [본문으로]
5. quintessential ; [ADJ] [usu ADJ n] Quintessential means representing a perfect or typical example of something. [본문으로]
6. auto insurance ; [명사] 자동차 보험(료) [본문으로]
7. diaphragm ; 1. (해부) 횡격막 ;; [NOUN] Your diaphragm is a muscle between your lungs and your stomach. It is used when you breathe. [본문으로]
8. nerve ending ; (해부) 신경 종말[말단] ;; [NOUN] Your nerve endings are the millions of points on the surface of your body and inside it which send messages to your brain when you feel sensations such as heat, cold, and pain. [본문으로]
9. spinal cord ; [명사] 척수, 등골 ;; [NOUN] Your spinal cord is a thick cord of nerves inside your spine which connects your brain to nerves in all parts of your body. [본문으로]
10. bodily function ; [명사] (구어) 생체의 기능(성교·배설 따위). [본문으로]
11. take (sth/sb) for granted ; [동사] 당연한 일로 여기다; 대수롭지 않게 여기다, ~을 당연시하다[~의 진정한 가치를/~이 고마운 줄을 모르다] ;; 유의어 accept without question; treat with careless indifference. ;; [본문으로]
12. institutionalize ; 1. [타동사] (독립적으로 생활할 수 없는 사람을) 보호 시설로 보내다 ;; [VERB] [usu passive] If someone such as a sick, mentally ill, or old person is institutionalized, they are sent to stay in a special hospital or home, usually for a long period. [본문으로]
13. be a burden (on/to) ; 짐이 되다, 부담이 되다 [본문으로]
14. parliamentary secretary ;; [명사] 정무 차관 참조 ; parliamentary private secretary, parliamentary undersecretary [본문으로]
15. shadow minister ; In British and some Commonwealth parliaments, a member of an opposition party, with responsibility for a particular portfolio. [본문으로]
16. shackle ; 2. [타동사] [주로 수동태로] (비유적으로) 족쇄를 채우다, (자유로운 말·행동을 못하도록) 구속[제약]하다 ;; [VERB] [usu passive] If you are shackled by something, it prevents you from doing what you want to do. [본문으로]
17. cabinet ; 3-(1). (英) (내각의) 회의실, 각의실 ; (지금은 특히) 각의(閣議). ;; 3-(2). [때로 C-] 내각. [본문으로]
18. solidarity ; [U] ~ (with sb) 연대, 결속 ;; [NOUN] If a group of people show solidarity, they show support for each other or for another group, especially in political or international affairs. [본문으로]
19. parry discipline ; 당의 규율 ((공산당 등의)) [본문으로]
20. backbench ; [명사] 백 벤치, 평의원석(영국 하원이나 일부 국가 의회에서 정부 각료나 정당 간부가 아닌 의원들의 자리. 뒷줄에 있음) ;; 참조 the front bench ;; [NOUN] The backbenches are the seats in the British House of Commons where backbenchers sit. The Members of Parliament who sit on the backbenches are also referred to as the backbenches. [본문으로]
21. introduce ; 7. [타동사] (법안을) 제출하다 [본문으로]
22. prohibition ; 1. [U] (특히 법에 의한) 금지 ;; 2. [C] ~ (against/on sth) 금지법, 금지 규정 [본문으로]
23. legislate for ; [자동사][V] ~ (for/against/on sth) (격식) 법률을 제정하다 ;; [VERB] When a government or state legislates, it passes a new law. [본문으로]
24. assistance in ; …에 있어서의 도움. [본문으로]
25. empirical evidence ; 경험적, 실증적 증거 [본문으로]
26. take part in ; …에 참여[참가]하다, 가담하다; 협력하다 [본문으로]
27. procedure ; 2. [U] (특히 상업·법률·정치에서 일을 하는 공식적인) 절차[수순] [본문으로]
28. premise ; (격식) (주장의) 전제 [본문으로]
29. be diagnosed with ; ~로 진단받다 [본문으로]
30. terminal illness ; [명사] (암 따위의) 불치병. ;; 유의어 terminal disease. [본문으로]
31. intolerable ; [형용사] 견딜[참을] 수 없는 ;; 유의어 unbearable ;; [ADJ] If you describe something as intolerable, you mean that it is so bad or extreme that no one can bear it or tolerate it. [본문으로]
32. euthanasia ; [U] 안락사 ;; 유의어 mercy killing ;; [NOUN] Euthanasia is the practice of killing someone who is very ill and will never get better in order to end their suffering, usually done at their request or with their consent. [본문으로]
33. self-inflicted ; [형용사] 자초한 ;; [ADJ] A self-inflicted wound or injury is one that you do to yourself deliberately. [본문으로]
34. consent ; 1. [U] ~ (to sth) (특히 권위 있는 사람에 의한) 동의[허락] ;; 참조 age of consent ;; 2. [U] 합의 [본문으로]
35. respect ; 1. [U, sing.] ~ (for sb/sth) 존경(심), 경의 ; 참조 self-respect ;; 2. [U, sing.] ~ (for sb/sth) 존중, 정중 [본문으로]
36. budgetary ; [형용사] 예산의 [본문으로]
37. be consistent with ; ~와 일관되다 [본문으로]
38. frostbite ; [명사] 동상 ;; [NOUN] Frostbite is a condition in which parts of your body, such as your fingers or toes, become seriously damaged as a result of being very cold. [본문으로]
39. empathy ; [U] ~ (with sb/sth) | ~ (for sb/sth) | ~ (between A and B) 감정이입, 공감 ;; [NOUN] Empathy is the ability to share another person's feelings and emotions as if they were your own. [본문으로]
40. compassion ; [U] ~ (for sb) 연민, 동정심 ;; [NOUN] Compassion is a feeling of pity, sympathy, and understanding for someone who is suffering. [본문으로]
41. common sense ; [U] 상식, 양식 ;; [NOUN] Your common sense is your natural ability to make good judgments and to behave in a practical and sensible way. [본문으로]