The Supreme Court is set to hear a case on Monday about whether people with rabies should have the option of passive euthanasia, which is a way to assist dying. This case was brought up by an organization called All Creatures Great and Small, which helps animals. The court earlier asked the government for its opinion on this matter.
Rabies is a serious illness with no cure. It is deadly and can cause severe suffering for patients. Because of this, the organization wants to create a special rule that allows these patients or their families to ask for help to end their misery gracefully.
In a previous decision in 2018, the Supreme Court said that everyone has the right to choose to die with dignity, even if they are sick. This ruling allowed for a ‘living will,’ which lets terminally ill or severely disabled people refuse treatment. The group wants to add rabies patients to this law because they experience horrible symptoms that can lead to them being restrained in bed, which takes away their freedom and dignity.
The court is expected to think about how terrible rabies is and that it is different from other diseases, making it a special case.
Leave a Reply