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A Mercy Killing in Iraq
BERLIN, April 1 (Reuters) - A U.S. army tank company commander convicted of shooting dead a wounded Iraqi walked free from court on Friday, although he was dismissed from the army for what he called a "mercy killing."Army Captain Rogelio Maynulet had faced up to 10 years in jail after a court martial at a U.S. army base in Wiesbaden, Germany, found him guilty of assault with intent to commit voluntary manslaughter.
"He was sentenced with dismissal from the United States Army … there will be no confinement time," a military spokesman said.
ABC News, April 1 2005
This is an interesting situation about which my emotions are conflicted. On one hand, I am not universally opposed to the idea of euthanasia. However, I do not believe that ought to be a decision to be taken by one individual - it is a decision the society as a whole needs to take via its legitimate commission of some sort.
Says Maynulet,
"He was in a state I didn't think was dignified. I had to
put him out of his misery."
But was that his decision to make?
I had once seen a young woman who had attempted to commit suicide by jumping out of a moving vehicle on a highway in the US. She was barely alive and her injuries likely included the fractures of the upper vertebrae. Quite likely, if she survived, she is paralyzed for life.
However, given the legal practice in the US, if any one of those present had killed her out of mercy, I am willing to bet that the treatment that person would have received in court would have been considerably more severe than Capt. Maynulet's. What gives?
I agree with your view. Leaving a decision of this magnitude to one
individual creates the opportunity for a subjective, possibly biased
decision. I also agree with your suggestion that some sort of qualified
panel or commission should make this decision.
I would go further to
suggest that a few family members be allowed to sit on those panels or
commissions in order that their opinions be taken into consideration, as
well as the critically-ill person's own wishes - whether he/she previously
left instructions or if he/she has the capacity to make them known.
The only problem with allowing more than one person to make a decision is that the more opinions there are, the more difficult it becomes to achieve unanimity.
I am enjoying reading your blog. Well-written and interesting... Are you professional?
Hi Ember!
Thanks for your kind words.
Are you professional?
What kind of professional? I don't believe writing is a profession - at least I tend to think of it more like an art form...
Boris.
Great answer. :) I couldn't agree more!
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