Some doctors were telling MPs that assisted dying should not be legalised.
Their reason? 'It goes against my beliefs.'
They opposed legislation (which affects everyone) because of their beliefs (which affects only themselves).
Why should the beliefs of the non-supporters be imposed on the supporters who hold different beliefs?
Having assisted dying legalised means individual doctors can decide if they participate based on their own beliefs. Every doctor's beliefs would matter. If assisted dying isn't legalised, that means only the non-supporters' beliefs matter because they're the only ones that can be acted upon.
Thing is, 'it goes against my beliefs' should only exempt doctors from participating in assisted dying if they share said beliefs. That's not an argument for why it shouldn't be done by any doctor at all. So it definitely isn't an argument to prevent assisted dying becoming legalised in Parliament.
Besides, assisted dying is about the patient, not the doctor.
Healthcare should be decided in the patient's best interests, not the doctor's best interests. It should be about the patient's health, not the doctor's beliefs.
Medical decisions and laws are meant to be based upon objective facts, not subjective opinions. The personal, subjective beliefs of a doctor shouldn't have an impact on inclusive, objective laws and healthcare.
Hence doctors opposing assisted dying legalisation based on their own beliefs is odd and, frankly, disrespectful.
Their reason? 'It goes against my beliefs.'
They opposed legislation (which affects everyone) because of their beliefs (which affects only themselves).
Why should the beliefs of the non-supporters be imposed on the supporters who hold different beliefs?
Having assisted dying legalised means individual doctors can decide if they participate based on their own beliefs. Every doctor's beliefs would matter. If assisted dying isn't legalised, that means only the non-supporters' beliefs matter because they're the only ones that can be acted upon.
Thing is, 'it goes against my beliefs' should only exempt doctors from participating in assisted dying if they share said beliefs. That's not an argument for why it shouldn't be done by any doctor at all. So it definitely isn't an argument to prevent assisted dying becoming legalised in Parliament.
Besides, assisted dying is about the patient, not the doctor.
Healthcare should be decided in the patient's best interests, not the doctor's best interests. It should be about the patient's health, not the doctor's beliefs.
Medical decisions and laws are meant to be based upon objective facts, not subjective opinions. The personal, subjective beliefs of a doctor shouldn't have an impact on inclusive, objective laws and healthcare.
Hence doctors opposing assisted dying legalisation based on their own beliefs is odd and, frankly, disrespectful.
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