The Connection Between Assisted Suicide, Euthanasia, and Eugenics by Kevin Yuill
The anti-euthanasia campaigner also warned that euthanasia can lead to movements aiming to eliminate individuals considered burdensome to society and a strain on government resources.
Assisted suicide has historical ties to eugenics movements, targeting individuals perceived as draining resources and no longer contributing to society, stated an anti-euthanasia campaigner.
The CEO of Humanists Against Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia, also an emeritus history professor from the University of Sunderland, pointed out early advocates of euthanasia like Samuel Williams, who introduced the concept at the Birmingham Speculative Club in 1870.
Yuill explained, “He highlighted that people are suffering unnecessarily, but they are no longer beneficial to anyone else. It has always carried the twin ideals of compassion and utility.”
He further elaborated that this concept progressed in the early 1900s in the United States, leading proponents to call for the chloroforming of infants from impoverished families. In Germany in the 1920s, discussions about costs were integrated into arguments long before the euthanasia programs of the Third Reich.
The campaigner highlighted a pamphlet advocating the termination of lives considered unproductive, particularly those in mental hospitals, who were seen as resource-intensive. Groups even endorsed the elimination of infants destined to be disabled through the “black stork” concept.
“Negative eugenics” was a term associated with the practice, especially focusing on individuals seen as draining resources, as mentioned by the emeritus professor. He disclosed that this notion continues within the pro-euthanasia movement, referring to recent opinion pieces advocating for assisted suicide due to the high costs associated with old age and illness.
Yuill cited a Canadian report from 2020, revealing substantial government savings following the implementation of the Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) program. The savings indicated the utility-driven approach, despite the compassionate facade.
The content focuses on the government saving $86.9 million through the MAID program, calculated to about $16,000 per person, escalating to $54,000 for individuals with mental health issues.
Canada extended eligibility for MAID to include those with mental illnesses in March 2027.
Propagandizing and Legitimizing Euthanasia
“In Germany in the 1920s, the justification for euthanasia evolved to include financial considerations. The negative eugenics approach was closely tied to the broader eugenics framework,” the professor elaborated.
He referenced a failed campaign from the Third Reich era where the “utility” argument was explicitly presented but ultimately backfired. Despite the failure, the practice of euthanizing the mentally ill and others viewed as burdensome to resources persisted.
A subsequent propaganda initiative during the Nazi regime, led by Joseph Goebbels, shifted the narrative to focus on compassion rather than savings, which proved effective in garnering support for the movement.
Assisted Dying: The Manipulative Language
Mr. Yuill critiqued pro-euthanasia advocates for using language that masks the true implications of laws related to assisted suicide. He emphasized the importance of honestly articulating the debate surrounding euthanasia.
He condemned the term “assisted dying” as Orwellian, stressing the necessity of accurately depicting the act of assisted suicide where the individual self-administers lethal drugs or euthanasia where a doctor administers the lethal injection.
“Honest debate is crucial in comprehending the gravity of the issue. Language should not obscure reality but illuminate it,” emphasized Mr. Yuill.
In anticipation of a non-binding Westminster Hall debate on assisted suicide, Mr. Yuill addressed the dangers of disguising the true intent of euthanasia legislation through misleading language. He highlighted that such misinterpretation could confuse the public, influencing their viewpoints on assisted suicide.
As discussions expand beyond support for assisted dying, Mr. Yuill raised concerns about the potential extension of euthanasia initiatives to include individuals suffering from mental health conditions. He cited precedents in countries like Belgium, The Netherlands, and Canada, where initial restrictions broadened over time.
Mr. Yuill warned against the inevitable expansion of assisted suicide laws if implemented in the UK and emphasized the importance of honest discourse to truly grasp the implications of legalizing euthanasia.