The number of words we can\u2019t use without offending is ever growing, and if the supporters of the right-to-die movement have their way, it will stretch yet again to include the word \u201csuicide.\u201d\u009d At least when that suicide is the result of a dying patient taking a lethal dose of drugs to avoid impending mental and physical anguish.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s insensitive at best to use the \u201cS\u201d\u009d word in this context, I\u2019ve been informed by several advocates, because people would not be choosing this option because of a psychiatric disorder or despair over life. They don\u2019t want to die; their diseases have forced that on them. Senate Bill 128, legislation recently introduced in California to allow physicians to write lethal prescriptions under tightly controlled circumstances, not only refrains from calling this suicide but would not allow death certificates to reflect how the death occurred.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe cause of death listed on an individual\u2019s death certificate who uses aid-in-dying medication shall be the underlying terminal illness,\u201d\u009d it reads.<\/p>\n
In other words, it wouldn’t mention the legal drugs that actually caused the death. The public should have a problem with that.<\/p>\n