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Does
a person have the right to die?
I am going to attempt to answer
the above question (if this is at all possible). First of all
I am going to set up an imaginary scenario to help understand
and answer the question :
Imagine
a 94-year-old man lying in a hospital bed dying from cancer. As
a side effect of his illness, there are many things that he
cannot manage for himself. For example he cannot wash and
clean by himself. Further, although he can just about feed
himself, he needs to be supervised while doing so. As
a result of the above this 94-year-old man has asked his
doctor to stop treatment, as he would prefer to be dead than
alive.
It is obvious that this man is suffering both emotionally
and physically. If he has a wife, children or other close
family then they too will suffer emotionally by seeing their
father, husband or close friend in this state.
No doubt his need for constant attention will also put a
strain on their careers. It must be horrific to see a loved
one dying and yet be unable to help in any way.
Should this man die it would put an end to everyone's
suffering. Allowing this man to die would also prevent him
suffering from the humiliation that he may feel by not being
able to care for himself as he had previously done through his
lifetime. Allowing him to die would help preserve his dignity
and allow people to remember him as healthy human being, not a
94-year-old equivalent of a new born child.
One may also argue that this man
has freedom of choice and if he wants to die then this are his
decision and his right as a human being.
On the other hand this man may be a Jehovah's Witness, which
means that according to his religion he cannot receive
certain, forms of medical treatment e.g. blood transfusions.
The question then arises: "Which is greater, religion or
quality of life?"
Although the answer is debatable,
from this man's point of view his religion may be superior to
the quality of his life and hence he would prefer to die than
receive treatment for better quality of life.
This situation must also be viewed from an economic point of
view. Doctor's may argue that if this man is going to die
eventually anyway then why waste valuable resources, time and
energy which is already limited anyway. Such resources may be
put to better use for younger people or people who have a
better chance of recovering.
Of course, all of the above
arguments portray merely one side of the story-the victims!
There is also another point of view that can be argued by the
average man on the street. First and foremost, one can argue
that no one has the right to play God.
Therefore no Doctor has the right
to take away another person's life regardless of his status or
qualifications, nor is there any qualification for being able
to judge whom it is okay for someone to die.
If a doctor is given the authority to make a decision
regarding the continuation of a person's life, then this
allows scope for mistakes and at some stage in his career; a
doctor may take an incorrect diagnosis, which may result in
the unnecessary death of a patient. It is unlikely that
doctors would not want to take on such responsibility nor is
it desirable for them to do so.
It is also possible that this
94-year-old man is not in an objective state of mind and
therefore is probably the last person to make decision on life
and death.
If the patient is allowed the freedom of choice of whether he
or she lives or dies then it is very easy for a patient to
take the easy way out of problems rather than face up to them.
One can argue that it is virtually encouraging suicide.
By forcing people to carry on living regardless of their health
or disease would promote greater acceptance within society.
For example if people who had aids could give up their lives
at will then such people may opt to terminate their lives
rather than face the "shame" of society.
Thankfully, euthanasia is not
legal at this particular point in time in this country and
therefore society is slowly accepting such disease as Aids.
I have put across two sides of a scenario, so which is right
and which is wrong.
Don't ask me, thankfully I am
neither the Doctor, the patient nor God.
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