EXCLUSIVE: Lila Rose discusses ‘throwaway culture’ with bioethicist Charlie Camosy

Live Action founder and president Lila Rose recently sat down with Charlie Camosy, a bioethicist, author, and professor, to discuss the pervasive ‘throwaway culture’ that has led to an increase in assisted suicide, euthanasia, and even infanticide. Their extensive talk focused on the future of the pro-life movement and how those now fighting for life can work to find common ground with those who support abortion.

Camosy told Rose that the pro-life movement is at a crossroads because there is no longer a sense that preborn human beings are equal persons. Instead, “the very notion of fundamental human equality is at risk.”

“We’ve lost the basis for saying all human beings are equal,” he explained.

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The pervasive view now is that a human being only matters if he has rationality, self-awareness, or autonomy.

“That’s probably the most important concept in secular bioethics right now is autonomy,” Camosy said.

He explained that while this view of humanity was considered extreme just 30 years ago, today, it is no longer viewed as controversial. Instead, he said, it’s “settling into the mainstream.” This has led to a culture that champions abortion for preborn children who receive a health diagnosis — and even infanticide for babies who are sick.

Camosy explained that the pro-death argument uses euphemisms to promote both infanticide and assisted suicide, calling such acts “comfort care” and “dying with dignity.”

“The euphemisms and gaslighting is so nefarious because they prey on our good instincts to promote them,” he said. But, “human equality and dignity means we don’t aim at the death of an innocent person.”

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Camosy hailed the work of those in the disabilities movement who actively fight against assisted suicide legislation, crediting their “boots on the ground” efforts in working for the rights of the disabled. However, he noted, there’s often a disconnect, as many of those same organizations would support the abortion of babies with disabilities.

In looking to the future, he advocated for the pro-life movement to work on building relationships with these disability rights groups.

“If we can have a dialogue with disability groups and have them join us in the fight for nonviolence the way they have at the end of life and physician-assisted suicide, I think it would change foundationally our fight for prenatal justice in the United States,” he said.

He closed by suggesting that one way pro-lifers can reach the opposing side is by using language to bridge the gap. For instance, using the phrase ‘prenatal justice’ can appeal to those who wouldn’t necessarily consider themselves pro-life. He also likes the term ‘throwaway culture’ over ‘culture of death.’

“The right way to do it is to say like, ‘How can I reach out to that person in a way that offers the critique but doesn’t define myself in opposition to them, but instead invites them to engage?” he suggested. “It’s very powerful.”