REACTION PAPER

Case: The Case of Tracy Latimer

Submitted by:

Renz Rio N. Lamoste

Block 1-P

Submitted to:

Ms. Mary Grace S. Cadenas

Reaction Paper: The Case of Tracy Latimer

Tracy Latimer was a 12-year-old girl from Saskatchewan, Canada, who had "cerebral palsy", a
condition that severely limited her physical and mental abilities. In October 1993, her father,
Robert Latimer, killed her by carbon monoxide poisoning by running a hose from the exhaust of
his truck into the cab where Tracy was seated. Robert Latimer claimed that he killed Tracy out
of mercy, as he believed that her life was full of pain and suffering, and that he wanted to end
her suffering. However, he was charged with murder and found guilty in 1994, and sentenced to
life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for at least ten years. The case sparked a
national debate about euthanasia, disability rights, and the limits of parental authority. Some
argued that Latimer's actions were a form of mercy killing and that he should be allowed to go
free, while others argued that Tracy's life had value and that killing her was an act of murder.
The case went through several appeals, and in 1997, the Supreme Court of Canada upheld
Latimer's conviction. Latimer was eventually released on day parole in 2010, and full parole in
2018, after serving 10 years of his sentence. The case remains controversial and continues to
raise ethical and legal questions about euthanasia and the rights of people with disabilities.

Laura Latimer discovered Tracy's lifeless body on October 24, 1993 while the rest of the family
was attending church. Tracy had been under the care of her father and was initially thought to
have passed away in her sleep. However, police confronted Latimer with autopsy evidence
indicating elevated levels of carbon monoxide in Tracy's blood. In response, Latimer confessed
to killing Tracy by placing her in his truck and connecting a hose from the truck's exhaust pipe to
the cab. He also revealed that he had considered other methods of ending Tracy's life, such as
administering a Valium overdose or shooting her.

Latimer claimed that his actions were motivated by love for Tracy and a desire to alleviate her
pain. He described Tracy's medical treatments as "mutilation and torture," citing her feeding
tube, rods in her back, amputated leg, and bedsores. In Latimer's view, it was impossible to
consider Tracy a happy child given the extent of her suffering.

One of my reactions to this case, I don't think I would have had the strength to do what Tracy's
father did, which was to end her life. However, I understand that Tracy's quality of life was
extremely poor, and her father believed he was making the best decision for her. As her parent,
he had to watch her suffer every day, and it must have been unbearable. Tracy's condition,
cerebral palsy, requires constant medical attention, and oftentimes surgery. Despite this, Tracy
was a living, breathing human being, and her father had no legal right to take her life. This case
raises concerns about the slippery slope of allowing euthanasia for people with poor quality of
life. It could lead to the belief that it's okay to assist someone's death simply because they're not
living a fulfilling life. However, I do believe that morally, Tracy's father did what he felt was best
for his child. It's comparable to giving a child up for adoption, where biological parents make the
decision they feel is best for their offspring. For him, “do the right thing” is to eliminate Tracy's
suffering through the only available means–eliminate Tracy. Latimer had resolved the question
of suffering and what to do about it, long before Tracy's birth. The only dilemma Latimer faced
for years before the murder was whether to do it now or put it off. However, murder is murder.
Every human life must be valued. Each individual must be entitled to equal protection of the law.
We must not allow a hierarchy of rights to be established whereby the act of killing one
individual is met with condemnation while the act of killing someone else is described as
"merciful" or "compassionate"(Cal Lambeth, 1996).

I think that I would not be capable of taking the same actions as Tracy's father did. However,
Tracy was experiencing significant unhappiness and had a poor quality of life, which could not
be resolved through medical care or financial means. It was difficult for her father to watch her
suffer without being able to alleviate her pain and suffering. Ultimately, his decision to end her
suffering was the best way he could have helped his child as a father. This case highlights the
profound selflessness involved in making the decision to end one's child's life for their benefit.
Although this decision was undoubtedly challenging for him, he put aside his own concerns and
knew that he would face legal consequences for his actions.

Furthermore, the case of Tracy Latimer has been the subject of much debate and controversy.
On one hand, some argue that Robert Latimer was acting out of compassion and love for his
daughter. They argue that Tracy was in constant pain and had a very poor quality of life, and
that euthanasia was the most humane option for her. They also argue that Robert Latimer was
not a cruel or malicious person, but rather a loving father who was pushed to his breaking point
by his daughter's suffering.

On the other hand, many others argue that the case of Tracy Latimer is a clear example of the
dangers of euthanasia and the devaluation of human life. They argue that Tracy's life had value
and meaning, even if she was disabled and in pain. They also argue that euthanasia is a
slippery slope that can lead to the killing of vulnerable people, such as those with disabilities,
who may be seen as burdensome or unwanted.

The case of Tracy Latimer also raises important questions about the rights of people with
disabilities. Many argue that Tracy's disability should not have been a death sentence, and that
she had the right to live and receive medical care that would alleviate her pain and improve her
quality of life. They argue that Robert Latimer's decision to euthanize his daughter was based
on a misguided belief that his daughter's life was not worth living because of her disability.
Some also raised concerns about the legality and ethics of euthanasia, and whether Latimer
had the right to make such a decision on behalf of his daughter.

In my perspective, not just me but many believe that human life is sacred and that it is not within
our power to decide when someone should die. According to divine law, only God has the right
to determine the timing and manner of a person's death, and taking human life is considered a
grave sin.

People with disabilities have the same fundamental human rights as everyone else. These
rights include the right to life, the right to be treated with dignity and respect, the right to equal
treatment and non-discrimination, and the right to autonomy and self-determination.

With respect to euthanasia, the issue is complex, and opinions vary widely. However, from a
disability rights perspective, many argue that legalizing euthanasia could lead to discrimination
against people with disabilities. They argue that if society accepts euthanasia as a solution to
the suffering of people with disabilities, it sends a message that the lives of people with
disabilities are less valuable and less worth preserving than the lives of non-disabled
individuals.

Additionally, some people with disabilities who are experiencing severe pain or suffering may
feel that euthanasia is their only option, due to inadequate access to pain management,
healthcare, and other support services. In such cases, efforts to improve access to palliative
care and other forms of support may be more appropriate than legalizing euthanasia.

In general, it can be said that the case of Tracy Latimer is a tragic and complex example that
raises important ethical and moral questions about the value of human life and the care and
support that should be provided to individuals with disabilities. It is important to continue to have
open and honest discussions about these issues to ensure that all individuals, regardless of
their medical conditions, are treated with dignity and respect.

Reference:

CCD Online. (n.d.). Robert Latimer and the "right to die" debate in Canada.
Reflections on Disability and Human Rights.
http://www.ccdonline.ca/en/humanrights/endoflife/latimer/reflections/rights

Wikipedia contributors. (2021, July 26). Robert Latimer. In Wikipedia. Retrieved September 14,
2021, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Latimer