Illinois coroner writes on right-to-die on his blog

Richard Keller is the coroner of Lake County, Illinois--which is between the Wisconsin state line and Cook County, where Chicago is.

Like 70 million other people, Keller has a blog. His June 4 entry is drawing some controversy, according to the Daily Herald:

Murder-Suicide of an elderly couple, is that such a bad way to go? Should it be a choice that folks can make?

I'm not talking about a "choice" that is forced upon one of the pair in the murder-suicide, but if it is agreed upon by both of the individuals, should it be a choice that they can make? It is difficult to grow old and particularly growing old into worsening health. It is incredibly difficult to watch a loved one deteriorate into worsening health. It is difficult to watch a loved one decline mentally (from a medical or a neurologic condition) to a point that they are no longer who they used to be.

Should it be a choice?

Keller was writing about a Lake County man who murdered his ailing wife, and then killed himself.

Apparently the coroner's post was not a rash one. He some elderly couples should have the right murder-suicide option open to them. And he thinks doctor-assisted suicide should be legal in Illinois--currently it's banned.

Technorati tags: right-to-die ethics blog blogging assisted suicide