Like what you've read?

On Line Opinion is the only Australian site where you get all sides of the story. We don't
charge, but we need your support. Here�s how you can help.

  • Advertise

    We have a monthly audience of 70,000 and advertising packages from $200 a month.

  • Volunteer

    We always need commissioning editors and sub-editors.

  • Contribute

    Got something to say? Submit an essay.


 The National Forum   Donate   Your Account   On Line Opinion   Forum   Blogs   Polling   About   
On Line Opinion logo ON LINE OPINION - Australia's e-journal of social and political debate

Subscribe!
Subscribe





On Line Opinion is a not-for-profit publication and relies on the generosity of its sponsors, editors and contributors. If you would like to help, contact us.
___________

Syndicate
RSS/XML


RSS 2.0

A spade is a spade: why correct language is so important

By Paul Russell - posted Monday, 29 August 2016


And while the silence may be deafening on that front, the use of euphemisms in the euthanasia and assisted suicide debate is far more subversive and the insistance that the media use these alternate phrases, downright sneaky and ultimately dangerous.

Perhaps the ultimate example was on display on the ABC TV program Lateline recently in an interview with Mr Denton conducted by Emma Alberici. Denton is the most recent celebrity to adopt the euthanasia and assisted suicide cause in Australia.

Alberici: "Once a law says that it's okay to kill someone, can the terms, conditions and safeguards around that ever entirely protect the vulnerable and entirely eradicate the possibility for abuse?"

Advertisement

Denton: "First of all, have you ever heard of a perfect law being written anywhere?"

Alberici: "But they're not all a matter of life and death."

Denton: "Okay. Secondly, let me talk about the use of the word kill: the vast majority of the people these laws apply to are already dying. That's what it's about. The overwhelming majority of people who these laws have applied to overseas are dying and have died of cancer. It is their disease that's killing them. What this law is for - a very strictly written law, following very clear criteria to protect doctors from prosecution should they follow the criteria - what this law is for is to assist them to die in a merciful way. Not to kill them; they are going to die anyway."

"But we're all going to die, Your Honour!" said no accused from the dock.

Alberici's question was about euthanasia. The Oxford dictionary defines it as: "The painless killing of a patient suffering from an incurable and painful disease or in an irreversible coma." Get that: killing.

Denton's is an Orwellian, 'defence of the indefensible'.

Advertisement

You can call it anything you like but it is inescapably, killing.

If you need help or if this subject matter disturbs you in any way, call LifeLine on 13 11 14.

  1. Pages:
  2. 1
  3. 2
  4. Page 3
  5. All

This article was first published on Hope.



Discuss in our Forums

See what other readers are saying about this article!

Click here to read & post comments.

8 posts so far.

Share this:
reddit this reddit thisbookmark with del.icio.us Del.icio.usdigg thisseed newsvineSeed NewsvineStumbleUpon StumbleUponsubmit to propellerkwoff it

About the Author

Paul Russell is the Director of HOPE: preventing euthanasia & assisted suicide www.noeuthanasia.org.au.


Paul is also Vice Chair of the International Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

Other articles by this Author

All articles by Paul Russell

Creative Commons LicenseThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

Photo of Paul Russell
Article Tools
Comment 8 comments
Print Printable version
Subscribe Subscribe
Email Email a friend
Advertisement

About Us Search Discuss Feedback Legals Privacy