A column in a newspaper provides a
wonderful opportunity to highlight an important issue that a person is
passionate about. Recently, the euthanasia debate is the talk of the town in
India. It is a sensitive issue that needs to be properly handled. This is a
simple letter to the Editor of a newspaper about the euthanasia debate in India.
The letter can be modified according to need and situation.
To
The Editor
Newspaper Name
Newspaper Address
Sir,
The
Supreme Court of India has on 9th March, 2018 allowed the use of passive
euthanasia in cases having advanced directive. For the uninitiated, euthanasia
is the practice of deliberately ending a life to relieve suffering and pain of
a person. Further, if the death is brought about by withdrawing life supporting
systems like few medicines or devices, then it is a case of passive euthanasia.
Active euthanasia refers to the helping or quickening of the death process of
an ill patient by the means of medicines by oneself or with the aid of a
doctor. An advance directive or a living will is a document whereby a patient,
in sound mental health, states the actions to be taken for their healthcare if
they are unable to do so later due to illness or incapacity. The verdict of the
Supreme Court has found mixed reactions with many people applauding the
decision while some opposing it.
Those
opposing or not supporting the verdict have, generally, a firm belief in God
and find the idea of premature death against the will of the God. The crux of
their belief is if people do not have the power to generate/create life, then
they do not have the right to take life from someone else. The matter of life
and death is in the hand of the almighty and only he can decide when a person
has to die. For them, the future is unknown. What if after a few years of
ending a person’s life by euthanasia, there may be a way, say new medicine or
medical device currently not in use, to save that person? The life of the
patient would be wasted then. If a person is suffering a horrible disease in
this life, it may be a result of the sins of this or past life and he must
realize his mistake. By interfering with his death; a person is interfering
with the will of the God. The main reason for euthanasia is negative emotions
like hopelessness, loneliness, depression, pain and lack of care. If they find
palliative care, many can overcome the desire for euthanasia.
Those supporting the verdict have their
belief firmly in the right of a person to live in a dignified manner with the
right to dignified life extending to having a dignified death. It is useless to
extend the life of a terminally ill patient using life support like ventilators
when it is sure that there is no hope for his survival. Importantly, it is not
always possible for a family, financially, to take care of such a patient. A dilemma
is always there weather to continue the expensive treatment or to safeguard the
future of the younger ones. Not to mention, the mental suffering that the
family collectively goes through.
It
is a very sensitive issue as there are a lot of emotions involved. Easing the
process of death to uphold the dignity of life of a person can only be taken
with proper consultation with the involved doctors and consent of the family.
If a person seeks passive euthanasia, the mental state of that person should
also be taken into account. Every measure possible should be taken so that
there is no misuse of passive euthanasia and strict guidelines should be
followed. Palliative care must be a preferred choice when no cure is possible
with passive euthanasia being the last option.
Yours faithfully,
Your Name
Your
Address
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