British conductor Sir Edward Downes and his wife took their own lives at a Swiss suicide “clinic” this week. I imagine there was a nice picture window view of the Alps, and maybe a Cd playing his final performance. (Sorry, can’t help but think of Solylent Green or PD James’ Quietus.) I guess they could afford the airfare and services, unlike most folks. Their two surviving children, Caractacus and Boudicca, said there would be no funeral service. He was 85; she was 74.
July 14, 2009
Conductor's Finale Exit
"(Sorry, can’t help but think of Solylent Green or PD James’ Quietus.)"
What popped into my head was "Logan's Run," where you were allowed to live until you were 30 before the state euthanized you. Everyone gets teary over the sick and elderly who wish to end their suffering. But as soon as the state loosens restrictions on suicide, you will eventually see calls to euthanize those felt to be just taking up space and resources. Then of course you may still get teary, but for a different reason....
Posted by: Bill R | July 14, 2009 at 06:55 PM
Note the new journalistic etiquette for this brave new world: 'died' rather than 'committed suicide with the help of doctors'.
Posted by: Albion | July 15, 2009 at 01:40 AM
Bill: It's not a matter of "eventually" seeing calls to euthanize those who are not terminal (whatever that means). In Holland, the depressed and the suicidal of any age are murdered by doctors no matter whether they suffer from physical diseases or not. What you predicted has come to pass there, and you are thus proven correct that it will come to pass here as well. We now have two states that have legalized euthanasia. I have no doubt there will be more, and when it again comes to the Supreme Court, it will be Roe v. Wade all over again.
Posted by: Deacon Michael D. Harmon | July 15, 2009 at 10:08 AM
When pop culture celebrities start taking the assisted suicide route, then the floodgates will open. It's a horrible thought but it's coming.
Posted by: Sandra Miesel | July 16, 2009 at 07:07 PM
Totally irrelevant to the discussion at hand -- but what possessed them to name their children Caractacus and Boudicca???
Posted by: Tragic Christian | July 20, 2009 at 01:11 AM
"what possessed them to name their children Caractacus and Boudicca???"
Who knows? An extreme dislike of Imperial Rome? Seems a little late in the day...
Posted by: Benighted Savage | July 20, 2009 at 05:11 AM