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Spirituality
Sensible
Adieu
Birth is an occasion for
joy. Contrarily, death is attended with grief. But birth and death are
like two sides of a coin. They are inseparable. Death, like a shadow
stalks behind a person from the moment he is born. In other words
death is inevitable. Mortality is the most certain certainty on earth.
Though we know we shall die, we are blessed to be ignorant of when or
how we shall die. Death comes at any age and any place. The causes are
innumerous. Disease, accident, natural calamity, starvation, suicide,
murder or sheer old age can bring about death.
Desires may vary from person to person but there is one desire which
is common to all. Everybody wants to die without pain or suffering.
But how many people have their desire fulfilled? Everyday, every
minute, every second there are thousands dying in agonized pain
suffered due to one of the causes listed above. Very rarely and very
few blessed mortals are clasped by death in a peaceful embrace.
When a person is terminally ill, has no chance of getting well and is
suffering from severe pain his
imminent death can be speeded up by voluntary, soothing aids. Such a
practice is called euthanasia.
Generally this concept is shocking to a majority of people because it
is a matter of human ethics, of the sense of right and wrong. They
believe the Almighty alone shall decide how long a mortal can live.
The end should come, they feel, naturally - and not forced.
The first argument against
euthanasia is it is equivalent to plain murder. Hence a crime and a
sin. The second argument is miracles, though rare, are nevertheless
possible. The excruciating, indefinite wait for miracle while the
patient lies without the hope of recovery crosses rational limits of
human endurance. Too heavy an emotional and monetary burden to carry.
In such situations euthanasia is a very sensible solution. But in the
present atmosphere the medical practitioner who has taken the solemn,
Hypocritical oath to save the life under his treatment to the best of
his ability cannot be seen in the light of an executioner, so to say.
It is strange how in human
society killing is not always considered sinful. Cruel, ruthless,
brutal killings have been taking place everywhere down the ages. Wars
in the name of political ambitions and crusades for fanatical
religious faiths are all part of man's history to this day. Soldiers
fight for the
country with patriotism serving in the army, navy and air force.
Killing the enemy is their bounden duty. Policemen and commandos are
deployed to quell riots and to maintain law and order. When mobs turn
rebellious “Shoot-at-sight” orders are issued. The killings by
the military force and the police have legal sanction. They are
morally right. There is no place for remorse. In “Mahabharatha”, Lord
Krishna convinced Arjuna with the gospel of Gita about “Karma” and
“Dharma”. Killing of the kith and kin which Arjuna abhorred was
rationalized beautifully.
In ancient civilizations also killing has been sanctioned by law and
custom. In Sparta, it is said, the warrior race did not think it
worthwhile bringing up children who lacked physical stamina. It was
their
custom to roll tender babies down hilltops. Only the survivors were
picked up and reared.
Neither was suicide ignominious and condemnable as a coward's escapist
decision. With Romans it was considered valor to kill oneself than be
captivated by the enemy. Mark Antony is a famous example. The Rajput
ladies in India who killed themselves before the captors entered their
premises were ennobled. The practice of “Sati” has flourished for long
deifying the hapless widows who were virtually pushed into the funeral
pyre of their husbands.
Social evils and terrorism have been carrying on killing in many forms
and for no noble purpose. Compared to the categories of killing cited
above, euthanasia is a completely different variety. Its aim
is humane. Some years ago the lady of my neighboring house who was in
her thirties fell ill with cancer. I vividly remember her last days
and her pathetic wails are still ringing in my ears. In spite of all
treatment her condition deteriorated fast and towards the end she
groaned in pain begging her husband to give her some poison to end her
insufferable ordeal. But he refused to comply with her desperate wish.
He could not think of it. He cannot bring himself up to killing with
his own hands his wife whom he adored. Perhaps he feared his
conscience would torment him for the rest of his life. It never
occurred to him that he will be actually rendering her real service by
fulfilling her wish. Such is the stance taken by an individual in the
present social background built on ethics of old times and fear of
interfering with divine will.
Do we not put suffering animals to sleep? Is that not a gesture of
grand kindness? Even Mahatma Gandhi who preached and lived for
“Ahimsa” requested the calf suffering in heartrending pain be put to
sleep. If animals meet with such gracious mercy do we human beings not
deserve it much more strongly and urgently? What is the use of
prolonging the life of a comatose person lying unconscious in a
vegetable state for years on end? The emotional trauma of the
relatives and the heavy medical expenses can very well be saved in
cent percent hopeless cases. When it is obvious that the utmost modern
medical facilities cannot alleviate the pain and suffering of a
terminally ill person whose remaining life shall tick on only for a
few more days, hours or minutes, is it not merciful to take resort to
euthanasia? Valuable medicine, time, money, service of the medical
personnel can all be spared as also the unspeakable, indefinite
anguish of near and dear ones. It is unnecessary to prolong the mental
agony of all concerned.
In this modern age when thinking patterns and concepts have
crystallized to a finer and saner level, let us learn to come to terms
with death - willed death. Let us give death the dignity it deserves.
It is easy once the decision is taken with conviction and confidence.
It is better that way. It is a service of a special kind, of supreme
discretion. Let us strive to get it sanctioned legally and ethically.
Let sentimental tears give way to sensible adieu.
–
Pavalamani Pragasam
May 18, 2003
A post graduate in English
literature Pavalamani enjoys reading & writing. She is a lover of
beauty - in nature, in language and in behavior. She is a housewife,
settled in Trichy, Tamil Nadu. She has a keen interest in upholding
human values and is very concerned about the health and growth of the
younger generation.
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