Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Euthanasia - Mercy Killing or Plain murder?

Euthanasia, more commonly known as ‘mercy killing’, is a contentious issue that is debated more and more these days. Euthanasia is mainly associated with people with terminal illness or who have became incapacitated and don’t want to go through the rest of their life suffering. This subject has come to be a subject that has became very debatable in society. The sides are well distinguished with one group portraying the idea that everyone has the right to die because it is our life and we should be allowed to terminate that at anytime we feel the need. The other side of the argument is that this is wrong and it goes against religion and that this could very easily get out of control if not taken care of now.The Oxford English Dictionary defines euthanasia as `a gentle and easy death: bringing about of this, especially in the case of an incurable and painful disease`. One of the more common arguments in support of euthanasia is that it stops the pain of the terminally ill sufferer once and for all, so called ‘mercy killing’. Some people argue that if a patient were in a lot of pain and distress it would be better to give them an `easy` and humane death.
I feel that every human being has a natural inclination to continue living. Life should be valued, not abused, since everyone is only given one chance to live. Because death is final and irreversible, euthanasia contains within it the possibility that mistakes do happen and in fact an incorrect diagnosis is possible. If society condemns patients who are terminally ill and in the end a mistake in the diagnosis is discovered then the suffering and blame would not fall on technology but on society itself. Suffering is surely a terrible thing and society has a clear duty to comfort those in need and to ease their suffering when it can. But suffering is also a natural part of life with values for the individual and for others that we should not overlook. Knowing that a life can be taken at any time will incline people to give up too easily, hence seeking an escape in euthanasia.

21 comments:

Pooja said...

wen suffering becomes unendurable...death s mor tolerable...m in total support of euthansia...Everyone has the rght 2 live,i agree...n equal rght 2 die...

Sunshine said...

If i ever have a choice between utmost suffering and death i'd choose death but only if there were no other ways to stop the suffering..i dont see anything wrong with that

Priya Joyce said...

I can't really say anything coz I haven't experienced such a pain. I would like 2 speak rather diplomatically on this. Indian law doesn't permit it. But I would like to say that the arguement "we have not created life so have no rite to take it" doesn't really fall into application. Coz wen pain is unbearable then only the sufferer can experience it. All arguments are flop .

Hey these days wats going on. not visiting ma blogs.

Keshi said...

I believe that Death is sometimes alot better than certain situations in life..such as terminal illness with no quality of life.

Keshi.

Heart'n'Soul said...

Hmmm
Here goes Arun again with another controversial topic...lol

Ok, I think thrs no defint rite or wrng hr...diagnosis can go wrong, but no one would really wanna die unless they really are in too much pain - unbearable even under the effects of drugs n all tht...and i am not considering the sucidal ones who wanna die just like tht

Issue is, who decides that there is no other way out of the unendurable suffering and pain...does the doc decide tht thrs no alternative, or does the patoent decide his limits of takin it.

Basically, after all this rambling, i still don know wts rite!!! Will hang on to your post now till i get a conclusion...lol

Arun said...

Cutepooja, Sunshine, Keshi.. hmmm.. I guess all of you have a point there.. Every coin has Two sides!

Arun said...

Priya,

Hey.. i wasn't talkin about India alone. It has been legalised in many European countries. So would you support the law there and at the same time be against the same act in india? And.. I did comment in your blog even yesterday :).. Will visit more often Ma'am ;-)

Priya Joyce said...

I guess then I am 4 it then.

hey I did not get ur comment.

Jeevan said...

You think from the individual and feel from there position and one from society.

Instead of taking one to euthanasia to give them freedom, why won’t try to encourage there interest that will give them courage to live up to, change the mind from distress to something beautiful. It connected to human sense and conscience than nothing. I can tell easily, because am not terminally ill, but for the one who suffers with no other treatment to feel comfort and unbearable pain… no words can justify.

Aneesh said...

I have to say I agree with the concept of mercy killing, but it should be allowed only for people who have no chance to come back to life.

Arun said...

devkiran,
haha :).. I promise i'll come up with a less controversial topic the next time ... lol:)

Arun said...

priya,

I commented today also! got it?

Arun said...

Jeevan,

Very true.. we can sit here and discuss all we want. only when we step into the shoes of the unfortunate souls who have to go thru this will we able to come up with a just answer! Well said!!

Anonymous said...

indeed, when sufering is too much to handle.. death seems so much better...
to kill to liberate is good... right to death is as important as right to live...

liked ur thoughts... thanks for blogrolling me... u r blogrolled too..!!:)

poor-me/പാവം-ഞാന്‍ said...

do not gnrls pl.
Dear friend ,
kindly spare some of your valuable time to knock at my door.
www.manjalyneeyam.blogspot.com
www.manjaly-halwa.blogspot.com
With regards
Not so poor-me.

Arun said...

Aneesh,

I guess thats the commom consensus we have here :)

Arun said...

Vinay,

Thanks :)

RiverSoul said...

I am in total agreement with euthanasia.
But only if there is practically no chance of the patient's survival.
And the decision should be made after thorough analysation and carefull case study.
I would happily accept euthanasia and consider donating my working vital organs to someone who has a chance of survival, and a chance to live a good productive life.

Arun said...

riversoul,

thats a great thought. None mentioned anything about Orag nDonations.. Thanks for the commemts. Keep visiting :)

The Seeker said...

Suffering is a mutual part of life!!!
Just got remembered of this lines of Emily Dickinson..

Blessed are the dead; for the living suffer.
My English ma’m often used to tell: “Pain is the process of healing!!!” If it is process of healing! Everyone would be in a belief that life is going to be better! But the very process of paining throughout the life is not going to make anything better! And one just cannot live in the belief that there is a process going on throughout our life to make our life better.

And its an individual choice. Well as u said suffering is inevitable and we need enough sorrow and suffering to keep us human and keep our going!! And that hope sustains life!!!

But to people who have been through the worst.. If death brings peace!!! Well!!! The choice…

It’s more to emotion, soul and heart than to the mind, logic and reasoning!!!

At times, families who had seen their loved ones suffer with humiliation throughout life wish for some peace and their sufferings to end once for all! Are they to blame! One need dignity even in death and also throughout the period of life and living!!!!


btw That Am blogrolling you!!!

Arun said...

my musings... nice thoughts there :)