An assisted suicide doctor, Susan Woolhouse has recommended in an online essay that children should be encouraged to watch their loved ones be killed by assisted suicide. Dr Gordon Macdonald, Chief Executive of Care not Killing said: "Assisted suicide and euthanasia are highly disturbing practices. For a child to witness a family member being killed would be utterly traumatic and corrupt their view of care and compassion."
In an online essay published by the University of British Columbia, Dr Susan Woolhouse claims to have had the ‘privilege’ of being involved in the suicide of 70 people. Woolhouse suggests that involving children in assisted suicide would be a ‘therapeutic’ experience.
"Consider having a child present"
In her essay, Woolhouse makes a range of suggestions which includes showing children the equipment used to kill their loved one, having a child present whilst their loved one is killed, and explaining how the medication will kill them.
Woolhouse said: "I have had the privilege of being involved in over 70 assisted deaths.... One day I received a referral for a 40-year old man, and I realized how ill prepared I was to support a family with young children through MAID (medical assistance in dying.) Yet, instinct told me that involving children in the MAID process of their loved one was possibly one of the most important and therapeutic experiences for a child.
"Consider having a child present...My past experiences during my palliative care rotations reassured me that children could benefit from bearing witness to a loved one’s death. Why would MAID be any different?
"Explain exactly what you are going to do and why. Offer to show your equipment (syringes, stethoscope, IV supplies). For example: "I have a tray with the things that I will use to help your loved one die. These include medications and syringes. I am going to leave them on this table and if you would like to take a look you can. I will stand beside the table and you can ask me any questions.""
Infliciting long-lasting trauma upon children
Dr Macdonald said: "Assisted suicide is a dangerous, uncontrollable and unethical practice. Allowing a child to witness assisted suicide and euthanasia, this may well inflict long-lasting trauma upon them. It may also encourage copy-cat behaviour as suicide contagion is a well-known phenomenon and often lethal drugs are prescribed and not used immediately and could be abused.
"Children should have faith and trust in doctors. They should not view them as killers which inflict damage and death upon others. The suggestions made by Woolhouse would altogether corrupt a child’s trust in healthcare professionals."