Watching a loved one die an agonizingly slow death from terminal ovarian cancer is not the best way to pass a Sunday afternoon. She has said her goodbyes and now waits patiently for the end. Everyday her body wastes away.... literally rotting away before our eyes. Her body autocannibalizes itself...and the bugs begin to have a go at the rest. Yet she still breathes, blinks....and gasps meaninglessly.We had some debates about euthanasia 2 years ago after Minister of Health floated one of his balloons on the subject. Since then there has been no progress on the idea. The idea seems to have died a natural death. Almost as soon as the idea was floated, it seems.
What gives.
Posts
2 comments:
Hi Giga, if the watchers don't find it a good way to pass a Sunday afternoon, what do u think it is for the patient concerned?
Much of the time we wish our loved ones will go quickly isn't always becos we don;t want them to suffer but becos we don;t want ourselves to suffer. Hence the quicker they move on, the quicker we can move on.
I'm not saying that this is your case, but I strongly believe it's the case with many.
There's a a Chinese saying which crudely translated into English says "Be sick for over long and no one wld mourn yr passing"
"....if the watchers don't find it a good way to pass a Sunday afternoon, what do u think it is for the patient concerned?"
I think that exactly is the point. It is very difficult seeing a loved one having to endure the pain and suffering, through an unnecessarily protracted period. I do not think it is particularly humane.
"Much of the time we wish our loved ones will go quickly isn't always becos we don;t want them to suffer but becos we don;t want ourselves to suffer. Hence the quicker they move on, the quicker we can move on."
You are not wrong about this, but it is equally wrong to assume that everyone is just motivated by self interests. The challenge in any legislation is being able to truly look after the interests of the patient, and not just pay blind allegiance to a theoretical ethical principle.
Post a Comment