Death

September 1990

That single-word title is to make the point that “death” is such a fearsome word to many persons that all variety of euphemisms are trotted out to avoid the word, “death.” We hear, “He passed away”; “she passed on”; “He is in heaven now.” Tennyson poetically described death as “crossing the bar.” In my younger days, I remember older men speaking of death, say, “He’s gone where the woodbine twineth.” Nowadays, a popular euphemism for death is, “He bought the farm.” I don't know the derivation of either “woodbine twineth” or “buying the farm.”

Albert Camus noted, “In Italian museums are found the little painted screens that the priest used to hold in front of the face of condemned men to hide the scaffold from them.” (in essay, “The Absurd Man” in THE MYTH OF SISYPHUS AND OTHER ESSAYS)

The euphemisms are innocuous and a matter of taste, I suppose, except that they represent a retreat from the reality that we all must die. The time comes, early or late, “He is dead”; “She is dead.” Such retreat from reality through euphemisms is understandable even though religions in various ways all deal with death and its meaning. The difficulty arises when such reluctance to confront death affects the choices of other people.

Now I read that some of the same persons and groups who, sometimes violently and illegally, oppose a woman's right to terminate a pregnancy are actively opposing those of us who claim the right of euthanasia – to choose to die rather than have a terminal illness prolonged through artificial life-support systems. Some of us take the additional step of being willing to go beyond passive euthanasia in taking action that will cause death.

Such “active” euthanasia became national news in June when Janet Adkins used Dr. Jack Kevorkian's “suicide” device. Janet Adkins, diagnosed as a victim of Alzeimer’s disease, pressed a button that released lethal chemicals into her system. Dr. Kevorkian’s van and the suicide device” were confiscated by authorities. As of this writing, the case is not yet adjudicated. I believe Janet Adkins had the right to choose death, and that Dr. Kevorkian committed no crime in providing the device she used to end her life. In this and similar contexts, “right to life” is more properly stated, “Right to control one's life.”

Thus many of us have written a “living will.” I have, and distributed it to my daughters and sons. No life-support systems for me; certainly NOT that inhuman feeding tube plugged into my gut. A pox on anyone who tries to do that to me.

But it must be emphasized that any one who does not want these medical procedures must make it known. The Nancy Cruzan case is sufficient reminder of that. Nancy Cruzan, 32, has been in a comatose state since 1983 as a result of an automobile accident. Her family requested permission to discontinue life-support systems. The Court refused because her family had not shown, “by clear and convincing evidence” that she would have wanted termination of treatment.

When I am in such terminal condition, I want release, to die, passively or actively. If I can speak, I will quote Kent’s words on the dying Lear (Act V Sc. 3)

“Vex not his ghost. O, let him pass. He hates him
That would upon the rack of this tough world
Stretch him out longer.”