To Live or Die: Some Hard Decisions?

Written by Harold McNeill on February 9th, 2015. Posted in Tim Hortons Morning Posts, Book & Movie Reviews


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What if this man choose to die rather than live? Having choose the latter even in the face of a debilitating disease, he went on to became an extremely influential scholar. Every person who reaches such a crossroads in their life deserves the opportunity of reaching out to others before making the final decision to end life.  Wrapping a potentially serious criminal charge around such discussions makes no sense and the Supreme Court of Canada got it right.

To Live or Die: Another choice along the path of life.

On the evening prior to the Supreme Court 9-0 decision overturning the Criminal Code sanction against ‘assisted suicide’, I attended the movie “A Theory of Everything, a biographical account of the life of Dr. Stephen Hawkings. The movie was adapted from a novel written by Hawking’s first wife, Jane Wilde Hawking, the mother of their three children (family photo in footer).  It was an excellent movie so if you have a chance drop in and enjoy.

As many know Dr. Hawking became a world-renowned mathematician and cosmologist who wrote a number of best sellers including A Brief History of Time which sold over ten million copies. Part of Hawking’s wide popularity was his ability to write about highly technical mathematical and scientific theories in terms a layman could understand.

Now, the fact he became a famous, wrote many books and at 73 continues to teach is not all that extraordinary as he is, after all, an extremely gifted and intelligent man whose theories balance against those formulated by Dr. Albert Einstein. What is exceptional Sue Rodriquezis that while completing his PhD at Cambridge, he was diagnosed with early onset ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) or Lou Gehrig’s disease. Apparently ‘early onset’ ALS can be more debilitating than ‘late onset’.

ALS is the same disease Sue Rodriguez, (1950 – 1994) of Sidney, B.C., was afflicted with and whose challenge of the Criminal sanction in 1993 lead to the Supreme Court upholding the law in a 5-4 split.  She ended up taking her own life in 1994 with the help of an unknown physician. If the physician had been identified, he would likely have been charged with an indictable offence, offences that are among the most serious in the Criminal Code.

While ALS affects people in different ways and at different times in their lives, Stephen Hawking’s diagnosis came while he was still in his early twenties, before completing his PhD, and before finalizing most famous of his theories. At the time of diagnosis he was given two years to live.

Of course he choose to live and although his body slowly withered, his brain remained intact and although he suffered periodic bouts of depression, he never stopped working on his theories, writing his books and teaching his students.  It is also remarkable that after his diagnosis and before completing his studies at Cambridge, he married Jane Wilde and the couple had three children over the next several years.

Throughout his first marriage, Hawking maintained a demanding schedule of travel, lectures and writing that took him around the world. These demands took a toll on his family life and after an amicable separation and later divorce, both he and then his wife remarried. Jane, to a family friend who assisted the family while she and Stephen lived together, and Stephen to the nurse who accompanied him on his travels. Stephan and Jane remained friends through life.

The reason for relating this background is probably evident – when should the decision to end ones life be made? While Hawking went through an initial period of depression, with the help of Jane and friends he overcame that depression, became accustomed to many of his bodily functions being attended to by others and never looked back. He knew the limitations that came with ALS would be debilitating, but that never stopped him from achieving some amazing milestones in his life. His decision to fight the disease rather than end his life has served him, his family and the world of science very well.

While 84% of Canadians support the right of an individual to end their life (nearly 500 people in Canada make that choice every year), it only makes sense to latimencourage people to bring that decision out of the shadows of the Criminal Law and into a place where family, a doctor or significant others might help with the final decision. Right now there is no choice, you do it alone in a back alley with a gun, an overdose or by some other means or you possibly subject others who might support and assist you, to a criminal charge.

We have seen several legal challenges in Canada the most famous cases being the cases of Sue Rodreigez (above) and Robert Latimer, (right) the farmer charged with second degree murder in the death of daughter. The Rodreigez case serves as an example of free choice, whereas the Latimer  case serves as a caution point in which ‘informed’ consent was a key element.

What our Parliamentarians are now tasked with is creating a balance between the right of an individual to take his or her own life while at the same time protecting the vulnerable from the potential abuse that may come with assisted suicide.  It will not be an easy task, but there are plenty of jurisdictions around the world that have achieved a balance and their experience is reported to be overwhelmingly positive.

I encourage the Conservative government, given their staunch opposition to changing the law, not wrap the new law with so many qualifications that making the decision to take ones one life is again pushed into a back alley just as they have done with the new prostitution law.

Footnote:  What should we think about death  (the answer is not related to the following diagram)

Creating a theory about Black holes (collapsed stars) and Singularity occupied much of Stephen Hawking’s life.

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Comments

  • Mike Fedorowich

    September 1, 2023 |

    I have gone through the above noted text and have found it quite informative.
    I am a former member with several law enforcement agencies from across Canada.
    I worked in the First Nations service under the authority of the RCMP with the over sight of the OPP. My law enforcement service was conducted under the authority of the Nishnawbe – Aski Police Service in North West Ontario the Louis Bull Police Sevice in Hobbema AB, the Kitasoo Xaixais Police Service in Northern in side passage on Swindle Island, the Lac Suel Police Service North West Ontario and the Vancouver Transit Authority Sky Train Police Service. I’m presently dealing with an RCMP member for falsifying a report against me for a road rage event. Court case is finished and the charge was dropped but I have an on going complaint with the member and have forwarded to the WATCH DOGS IN OTTAWA FOR the RCMP review and consideration. I believe the said officer is in violation of his oath of office and should be held accountable for falsifying his RTCC all the while dragging me through the court system here in Nanaimo. RCMP continue to stonewall the appeal but Ottawa and the crowns office are still looking into the matter. if your able and find the time or the interest in this very brief introduction, I would very much like to speak with you and would be grateful to hear any wisdom that may come across from your end. I served with First Nations Police Services for ten years in isolation and six years with Transit Police out of New West Minster. I do value and appreciate any time you could spare to chat for a bit on this particular subject matter. Respectfully with out anger but an open mind, Mike Fedorowich Nanaimo BC 250 667 0060

  • Harold McNeill

    February 28, 2022 |

    Hi Robert, I do remember some of those folks from my early years in Cold Lake (Hazel was my aunt and our family spent many fond times with Uncle Melvin, Aunt Hazel and Family. I knew Lawrence and Adrian. Having read a half dozen accounts it is clear their were many false narratives and, perhaps, a few truths along the way. I tried my best to provide an even account from what I read. Cheers, Harold. (email: Harold@mcneillifestories.com)

  • Robert Martineau

    February 25, 2022 |

    Its been a long time since any post here, but its worth a shot. My Grandfather was Hazel Wheelers brother Lawrence, and son to Maggie and Adrien. Maggie Martineau (nee Delaney) is my great grandmother. The books and articles to date are based on the white mans viewpoint and the real story as passed down by the Elders in my family is much more nefarious. Some of the white men were providing food for the Indians in exchange for sexual favors performed by the Squaws. Maggie was the product of one of those encounters. Although I am extremely proud of my family and family name, I am ashamed about this part of it.

  • Julue

    January 28, 2022 |

    Good morning Harold!
    Gosh darn it, you are such a good writer. I hope you have been writing a book about your life. It could be turned into a movie.
    Thanks for this edition to your blog.
    I pray that Canadians will keep their cool this weekend and next week in Ottawa. How do you see our PM handling it? He has to do something and quick!
    Xo Julie

  • Herb Craig

    December 14, 2021 |

    As always awesome job Harold. It seems whatever you do in life the end result is always the same professional, accurate, inclusive and entertaining. You have always been a class act and a great fellow policeman to work with. We had some awesome times together my friend. I will always hold you close as a true friend. Keep up the good work. Hope to see you this summer.
    Warm regards
    Herb Craig

  • Harold McNeill

    November 26, 2021 |

    Hi Dorthy, So glad you found those stories and, yes, they hold many fond memories. Thanks to social media and the blog, I’ve been able to get in touch with many friends from back in the day. Cheers, Harold

  • Harold McNeill

    November 26, 2021 |

    Well, well. Pleased to see your name pop up. I’m in regular contact via FB with many ‘kids’ from back in our HS days (Guy, Dawna, Shirley and others). Also, a lot of Cold Lake friends through FB. Cheers, Harold

  • Harold McNeill

    November 26, 2021 |

    Oh, that is many years back and glad you found the story. I don’t have any recall of others in my class other than the Murphy sisters on whose farm my Dad and Mom worked.

  • Harold McNeill

    November 26, 2021 |

    Pleased to hear from you Howie and trust all is going well. As with you, I have a couple of sad stories of times in my police career when I crossed paths with Ross Barrington Elworthy. Just haven’t had the time to write those stories.

  • Howie Siegel

    November 25, 2021 |

    My only fight at Pagliacci’s was a late Sunday night in 1980 (?) He ripped the towel machine off the bathroom wall which brought me running. He came after me, I grabbed a chair and cracked him on the head which split his skull and dropped him. I worried about the police finding him on the floor. I had just arrived from Lasqueti Island and wasn’t convinced the police were my friends. I dragged him out to Broad and Fort and left him on the sidewalk, called the cops. They picked him up and he never saw freedom again (as far as I know). I found out it was Ross Elworthy.