“Do we have a duty to die?” This was a startling question raised on a report I heard recently about age discrimination, and about the problems that come with a society that is living longer than ever before. This question really got my attention!
The argument was made that growing older brings increased health-care and care-giving costs, which represent a huge burden to society. So to avoid this burden, it is suggested by some that the elderly should simply die off at a certain age or when their health fails.
Many would find this discourse repugnant and offensive. I do. After all, such discourse is capable of doing severe harm to others. In Christian Science, the term used for this negative mental influence is mental malpractice.
