Lady Warnock has won great respect for her work in medical ethics, but she has certainly stirred up an awful hornet’s nest with her recent comments about the burden placed on society by Alzheimer’s patients. She said they have a duty to die, as they place too many demands on their carers.
It’s true that we have a funding crisis, and no one would wish to have dementia, but she is going too far here. Baroness Warnock is using her media access to advocate the awful course of eugenics. If the cared for person desperately wishes not to deteriorate and can make a living will, yes, then possibly they can ask for their life to be ended if they wish to not deteriorate beyond a certain level they themselves define. However – no one should make that decision for the person, especially if they are incapable of doing it themselves.
We all know that if decisions are taken for people with Alzheimer’s disease it won’t stop there, don’t we?!!!
Knock, Knock Warnock
September 23, 2008Lady Warnock has won great respect for her work in medical ethics, but she has certainly stirred up an awful hornet’s nest with her recent comments about the burden placed on society by Alzheimer’s patients. She said they have a duty to die, as they place too many demands on their carers.
It’s true that we have a funding crisis, and no one would wish to have dementia, but she is going too far here. Baroness Warnock is using her media access to advocate the awful course of eugenics. If the cared for person desperately wishes not to deteriorate and can make a living will, yes, then possibly they can ask for their life to be ended if they wish to not deteriorate beyond a certain level they themselves define. However – no one should make that decision for the person, especially if they are incapable of doing it themselves.
We all know that if decisions are taken for people with Alzheimer’s disease it won’t stop there, don’t we?!!!
Posted in Comments on the News, Disability Issues | Tagged Alzheimer's disease, Baroness Warnock, carers, dementia |