Last Updated: Friday - 09/24/2010

Ethicist urges support for hospices, palliative care

Catholic Women's League told to pressure Parliament to veto euthanasia, assisted suicide

Gordon Self

OLDS - Support for euthanasia has a strong foothold in today's society, says the vice president of missions, ethics and spirituality for Alberta's Catholic health care institutions.

Modern media promotes the concept that youth, power and vitality have value, while the elderly are shown as weak and valueless. Advertisements value youth, not aging, Gordon Self told the annual archdiocesan convention of the Catholic Women's League.

"When was the last time you saw a car commercial for a car that goes slow and is rickety and that's held up as the ideal? It's all about power and speed," Self said.

YOUTH SELLS

"It's been awhile since the Golden Girls were featured. Now it's more about America's Next Top Model and the call of Viagra. It really says something about what is important in our culture."

Offering his social commentary on television-as-life, Self said what gets attention on prime time TV is voting the weakest link off of the island or telling somebody, "You're fired!"

"If you don't cut it, off you go. We see that as a form of entertainment but, really, it creeps in very insidiously about what we hold important in our culture.

"Even the cooking shows, if you chop that onion the wrong way, off you go. If you are burdensome to the team, off you go," he said.

EUTHANASIA THREAT

This worldview does not bode well for our aging society. For those viewed as burdensome because they are elderly and/or dying, they are vulnerable to euthanasia advocates.

Self urged CWL members to continue sending the message to their members of Parliament that euthanasia and assisted suicide are wrong, and alternatives such as palliative care and hospice care must be sought.

The annual convention was held at Olds College April 16-18. Its theme was Women of Peace and Hope.

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