Patient’s Choice to Die

My name is Manuel J. Montero. I have the same handicap as Elizabeth Bouvia. My handicap cannot be compared with hers, because my cerebral palsy is becoming better as the years go by.

For example, about 12 years ago I could not dress by myself, nor could I toilet myself. Today, I am a graduate from East Los Angeles College with an associate of arts degree plus a certificate in business data processing. This means that my future will become even better. One of the things that keeps me going is the fact that I can have hope, set new goals and be able to accomplish them with a lot of time and with God’s help.

My personal opinion is that Elizabeth Bouvia has the right to do what she considers the best for her. She is the only one who can feel what her whole future would be like. From what I can see, she is going to be dependent upon other people to help her with her personal things, and also, knowing that she never will feel better. By being in bed for 15 or 20 years, what can we expect of her and her psychological state of mind?

If I were to be in the same situation, I would not be able to live for that period of time. This is why I strongly feel that Elizabeth Bouvia’s doctors are making one of the biggest mistakes in the medical profession, because however we look at it, we can see that, sooner or later, Elizabeth Bouvia’s doctors are going to fact the facts that unfortunately there is only one way they can help her and that is by respecting her wishes to die in peace.

MANUEL J. MONTERO

Los Angeles