Today, a rather sombre topic. There was a fine documentary on BBC radio this morning. It was about a 29 year old woman in Holland who opted for assisted euthanasia in December to end her life. Euthanasia is itself a very contentious and controversial topic. In many western countries it is allowed on the grounds of the person being terminally ill and in a lot of physical pain so that the quality of life is absolutely low. However, even in most of the countries where it is allowed, it is allowed only for physical illnesses. Not for mental illness or psychiatric problems. That was the case of this Dutch woman Aurelia Brouwers who had severe psychiatric problems.
Euthanasia on physical illnesses that are terminal are much more widespread but not so with psychiatric patients. According to the BBC "The vast majority of the 6,585 deaths from euthanasia in Holland in 2017 were cases of people with a physical disease. But 83 people were euthanised on the grounds of psychiatric suffering. So these were people - like Aurelia - whose conditions were not necessarily terminal".
It is not uncommon for common people to encounter death in many ways. Family members, friends, colleagues or even unknown people passing away is a daily occurrence in our lives. Some die at ripe old age, some have their live cut short at a very young age. Some die due to terminal illnesses, some in accidents and few also commit suicide.
There are many ways people die and the different ways have different impact on the people around the person that passes away. Someone dying at a ripe old age of whatever cause is a normal occurrence. Even family members take that naturally and move on after initial short period of mourning and lamentations. In cases of accidents and someone dying young of illnesses, the impact is much longer and deeper. Everyone contemplates on the potential life being cut short. It is a life long scar for family, especially the spouses, parents and children.
The dimension is different when it is a case of suicide. People always have that lingering thought that it could have been prevented. It is considered unnecessary wastage of life. Some even blame the dead for their inability to face travails of life. In most societies, the act of suicide is also considered an act of sin and cowardice.
But what if your life is so terrible that the best alternative is to end it? What if you go through insurmountable pain day-in and day-out so that you suffer your life much more than you live it. What if you are afflicted by such an illness that causes a lot of pain, is expensive to treat but still does not cure, is degrading your life every day and is bound to lead to a painful and undignified death very shortly? Are you justified to chose to terminate your life then and there? Can you choose to die on your own free will while you still can make that decision? Or wait till you are incapacitated that you cannot communicate your desires, are in life support and cannot convey your message, cannot tell anyone what you are feeling, even that you want to die now? What if you are in a coma for years where neither you nor your loved ones can have a feeling that you are alive? These are the thoughts that probably occur in the minds of those unlucky people who have to suffer so much that death becomes the easy option for them.
In mythology we come across people who could choose their death. Like Bhisma of Mahabharat and other many sages who could meditate to death or predict how they would pass on. But these are modern times and though it may sound weird and unethical to many, assisted suicide or euthanasia is the most dignified option available to end their life for good.
Friday 10 August 2018 (शुक्रबार, २५ श्रावण २०७५)
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