Well, people live together in a more or less ordered community for protection and seeking to eradicate the dangers of crime, etc.
And from Wikipedia: A human society is a group of people involved in persistent interpersonal relationships, or a large social grouping sharing the same geographical or social territory, typically subject to the same political authority and dominant cultural expectations.
But does society have the right to govern what individuals will do? Who they will marry? How they live their lives? When they can die?
In UK's latest ruling on assisted dying, a senior judge said yesterday that disabled people should get help to kill themselves. But he admitted any new law would have to ensure vulnerable people were not pressurized to end their lives.
The UK Supreme Court has upheld the ban on doctors helping patients to end their lives. However, judges have the constitutional authority to intervene in the debate. This leaves many hopeful about future changes to the law.
As a result of the ruling, parliament can re-examine the predicament of those who are severely ill and wish to die but cannot do so without medical assistance.
The case was brought by Jane Nicklinson, whose husband Tony died two years ago with locked-in syndrome, and paralyzed ex-builder Paul Lamb, 58, who is in constant pain and permanently on morphine. His condition is irreversible and he wishes to end his life with the help of a medical professional.
Following the hearing in London which went against the plaintiffs, nine judges were asked to decide whether the ban on assisted suicide gives people the human right to a private life. They ruled against the proposal by a seven-two majority.
What? That's a bit hard to follow. I've read it several times but I think it means people aren't allowed a private life.
Perhaps, the terminally ill are the lucky ones because they know their lives are coming to an end. Another man suffered a brain-stem stroke six years ago at 43, leaving left him unable to speak and virtually unable to move. He wants to kill himself, but is unable to do so without assistance from someone else.
The 50-year-old Suicide Act is out of touch with individual's problems in the 21st Century. With public opinion in favor of change, it is only a matter of time before the law is reformed.
However, would citizens who are infirm, or slowly dying, or elderly be culled if the reform was allowed? Such people might feel a burden on society and choose to end their life. Or, like the plots of many novels and movies, be sent to a final reward when they reach a certain age and turned into protein pellets for the rest of society.
I think any society should work for every citizen. Even barring a crippling accident or a debilitating disease, people grow old and circumstances change. At the moment, I have difficulty walking. Relatively speaking, the blink of an eye separates my present condition from the youthful, active woman of my youth. However, I can think—and write—and in the future… Well, who knows?