Posted on: Wednesday, October 1, 2003

EDITORIAL
Onstage suicide isn't death with dignity

We back the right of terminally ill patients to die with dignity, and have urged Hawai'i to pass legislation modeled on Oregon's physician-assisted suicide law.

But our support for allowing the dying diseased to end their lives on their own terms in no way sanctions a publicity stunt by a Mainland hard-rock band to "raise awareness that physician-assisted suicide be legalized in Florida."

The Tampa-based band had planned an onstage suicide at a show at the State Theater in St. Petersburg. It claimed a terminally ill person would kill himself during the show.

Not surprisingly, the theater's owner canceled the event, and the St. Petersburg City Council approved a ban on suicide for commercial or entertainment purposes. Meanwhile, a state judge granted a temporary injunction to prevent the band from advertising the show and allowing the suicide.

Undeterred, the band says it has moved the show to an undisclosed location on Saturday, and will show the suicide on the Internet. Sounds to us like a tasteless stunt and little else.

This is not the way to advocate for physician-assisted suicide. On the contrary, such exploitative exhibitionism demeans a serious issue and harms the cause of many committed people.

Where's the dignity in that?