Editorial | A necessary debate on life and death
- It is an uncomfortable subject yet one that Hong Kong must reflect on after another tragedy involving a terminally ill woman and the ‘mercy killing’ carried out by her caregiver-husband
A 12-month probation order for a conviction of manslaughter may appear to be far too lenient a sentence. But what lies on the other side of justice is an all-too-familiar tale – a desperate and caring husband suffering from depression kills his cancer-stricken wife with her consent, before giving himself up to the police.
The case has again prompted reflection on policies governing the terminally ill and support for caregivers in Hong Kong.
Sentencing the 58-year-old man who had already spent 31 months behind bars on remand, High Court Judge Albert Wong Sung-hau said the case could not be dismissed as being not serious, but it was also one that deserved compassion.
The court heard that the woman, who was suffering from stage four lung cancer, had given permission for her husband to end her suffering by burning charcoal in her bedroom. The judge ruled that a probation order with supervision and counselling would best serve the interests of the community and help the defendant to lead a normal life again.
It is not unusual for the courts to put emphasis on rehabilitation after considering the relevant circumstances. The judge highlighted the question of whether legal measures should be introduced to take into account the wishes of the terminally ill in “extremely desperate situations”.