A good example of why the law should change

The Herald reports:

A terminally ill man who has a year to live says he will end his life before cancer does – and he wants to do so legally.

Joseph Claessen, from , has an aggressive form of prostate cancer and is expected to die within 12 months.

“There is no doubt about it. I will kill myself if the law doesn't change by that time,” he said.

“I don't think I will do it here at home. Mostly likely I will look for a nice spot in nature, have a nice cigar, have a whiskey, and then after that do it.”

The 68 year-old appeared before a select committee at Parliament yesterday and pleaded for a law change.

Speaking to the committee, he said he wanted the right to choose when his pain and suffering became too great. …

Under the existing law, he said he was likely to have a shorter life because he would kill himself while he was still physically capable.

“This inaction [by Government] will shorten my life. It will put a lot of stress, discomfort and trauma to my family.”

This is the sad reality. The current law incentivises people to kill themselves earlier than otherwise would be the case.

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