Key Takeaways:
– Legal assisted death treated the same as a death from illness by insurers.
– Warnings surface about potential for family coercion on terminally ill for an insurance payout.
– Bill Noble, former Palliative Medicine chief, warns about unethical influences on vulnerable patients.
– Zurich Insurance and Royal London offer insight on payouts in cases of assisted dying.
Assisted Suicide and the Insurance Payout
In regions where assisted suicide is legal, a new issue arises. Family members may be driven by the alluring idea of an insurance payout following the assisted death of a relative. Insurance firms treat an assisted death in the same way as any other sickness-related death.
This approach means typically insurance policies are expected to pay out. Given this situation, doctors and pro-life campaigners have begun to raise alarm bells. They have expressed concerns over potential coercion of elderly relatives. The aim of this coercion would be to secure the life insurance payout quicker.
Voices of Concern
Medical professionals have voiced their apprehension about potential misconduct in end-of-life scenarios. According to Bill Noble, former head of the Association for Palliative Medicine, if protections were to be annulled at life’s final stage, it could lead to untimely deaths. Unethical relatives could have their vulnerable family members ‘die before their time’ to secure a monetary gain.
Furthermore, concerning the risk of such coercion, Gordon Macdonald from ‘Care Not Killing’ highlighted the lurking dangers of legalizing assisted suicide.
Clarification from Insurance Giants
Insurance giants have provided some insight into this issue. A representative from Zurich Insurance expressed that most individuals contemplating assisted suicide are likely at the end-of-life stage. Hence, they would have probably claimed terminal illness benefits.
Similarly, representatives from Royal London offered their perspective. They stated that if someone has passed away due to assisted death, and if the natural death was anticipated within their plan term, they would likely approve such claims.
Macdonald, however, retorts that this stance provides a clear path for those with ulterior motives to pressurize the susceptible to opt for euthanasia or assisted suicide. This action could result in a quick financial gain.
Predatory Acts on the Rise?
Elder malpractice and predatory activities seem to be escalating. Of particular concern are instances where someone faces a challenging situation just when a policy is approaching its expiration date.
Research from Action on Elder Abuse showed alarming results—almost one-tenth of UK individuals aged 65 and above have experienced some kind of elder abuse. This finding points to a disturbing possibility: the increased prevalence of pressure exerted on the elderly to opt for assisted death in areas where it is permissible.
In conclusion, with the advent of assisted suicide laws, comes a new wave of threats for those who are already vulnerable —navigating terminal illness. The interaction of these laws with insurance payouts, especially within families, is a complex and ethically challenging concern deserving of close scrutiny and robust safeguards.