The right to die
Sir: Ms Sanders compares the starvation of handicapped infants with 'the Nazi ethic' (22 August). In 1922 Binding and Noche, in Die Freigabe der Vernichtung lebensunwerten Lebens ('Release of the Destruction of Life Devoid of Value') argued: 'the cost of keeping these useless people is excessive . . . the State could better spend the money on more productive issues'. Later authorisation 'that persons who according to human judgment can upon most careful diagnosis of their condition of sickness be accorded a mercy death' was signed in 1939 by Hitler, who in Mein Kampf argued that, in eliminating the 'physically and mentally unhealthy and unworthy', the 'State must act . . . the wishes and selfishness of the individual must become as nothing.' First death (Hitler sent his own physician) at Leipzig was that of a handicapped child.
Now (29 August) Ms Simms, costing the upkeep of the handicapped as though people were simply debits on the State ledger, writes of 'sacrifice' of other NHS services if such infants are granted their individual 'Right to Life'. Are not the ideologies remarkably similar? And will not some of those who at gue that other patients will suffer if the handicapped live also eventually argue that the sick cost too much?
But we must thank Ms Simms for indicating that motives for neonatal euthanasia may be, not 'merciful', as always claimed in reverent tones by performing paediatricians in the media, but mercenary. The DHSS book Prevention and Health — Everybody's Business costs the upkeep of Downs Syndrome and spina bifida cases, lamenting the 'heavy burden . . . the cost of these demands'. The Expenditure Committee 1977 quoted this and heard the benefits of 'not keeping severely disabled babies alive'. This year DHSS publications state that our government wishes to work 'along similar lines' by implementing 'prevention'. The Health Education Council was in 1977 considering a campaign to encourage 'prevention' by arguing that NHS resources might 'make all the difference the next time a kidney machine was wanted' (Ms Simms's argument, first used in the Expenditure Report.) But what if kidney patients' quality of life' is questioned next?
Theresa Croshaw 24 Tryan Road, Nuneaton, Warwicks
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