strikes me as a good idea

A controversial new “right to die” card is being offered to the public that allows anyone to refuse treatment in a medical emergency.

Sounds like a generalized version of the DNR orders here in the U.S….

Who carries it, and why?

It’s a morbid question, but one that many of us have pondered at least once.

If I hadn’t just escaped that dreadful accident, where would I be now? Would I rather be dead than depend on others to keep me alive?

A new card seeks to address that very question.

Available in pubs, banks, libraries, GP surgeries, even some churches, the Advanced Decision to Refuse Treatment (ADRT) card sits snugly in a wallet or purse and tells doctors their patient has made a decision about treatment they do not want should they lose the capacity to make decisions, because of an accident or illness.

Dubbed the “right-to-die card”, it’s being seen by some as a short-cut to euthanasia.

What’s wrong with euthanasia? As long as it’s the individual’s choice, I don’t see the problem. For that matter, everybody (well, every able-minded adult) should have the right to refuse medical treatment for whatever reason (including dumb ones like being a Christian Scientist with appendicitis) and it’s entirely reasonable to make arrangements to enforce these personal choices in the event of becoming incapacitated:

But its backers say it is a practical way of implementing the Mental Capacity Act, which came into force in 2007.

The act allows adults to draw up “advance decisions” stating what sort of treatment they don’t want should they lose capacity. They build on the principle of “living wills” but, crucially, mean that doctors are legally bound to abide by a patient’s wish to refuse life-sustaining treatment.

Trust the “pro-lifers” to have an opinion:

But so-called pro-life campaigners say they could be snapped up in haste by people who haven’t fully understood the complexity of the issues involved.

Translation: (whine) But they don’t agree us!

I’m sick and tired of these so-called pro-lifers sticking their noses into other people’s business. Anybody who feels strongly enough about refusing certain types of treatment to make advance arrangement in case of becoming incapacitated and being unable to communicate these choices has met the benchmark to make these choices stick. There’s no complexity at all, they are exercising a personal choice and legal right, end of story. The “pro-lifers” simply want another foot in the door to browbeat or scare people into toeing the “pro-life” line.