Writer Arthur Koestler chose death when he thought that his
productive life was over. He was suffering from Parkinson’s disease as well as
leukaemia. He was a member of an organisation called Exit which
supported people’s “right to die with dignity.” Koestler was 77 when he gulped
down an overdose of barbiturate tablets. He didn’t want to continue the agony
of his existence. I defend his decision to end his life with dignity.
But I don’t accept what his wife
Cynthia did. She was in her 50s when she chose to die along with her husband.
She loved him so much. That was the reason. Was it necessary to end her life
just because her beloved man was dying? I don’t want to judge her. Maybe, she
would find life unbearable without her man. She could have given it a try, I
think.
I defend euthanasia with my whole
heart in cases like Koestler’s. But not in those like Cynthia’s. When one is
suffering from a terminal illness and it is certain that there is no chance of
recovery at all, one should be given the freedom to end one’s life. There
should be dignity in death too. I would hate to lie in a bed in utter
helplessness and hopelessness, depending on someone else for everything. I
would embrace death gladly in such a situation. I must be assisted to die with
ease.
Why are we so hypocritical when it
comes to euthanasia? We pretend to love life and defend it when our statistics
speak quite something else.
Globally 800,000 people kill
themselves every year. Half that number are killed by others.
150,000 Indians die on the roads
every year. There are about 1130 accidents and 422 deaths taking place every day
on the Indian roads. That is, 47 accidents and 18 deaths every hour.
WHO informs us that 3 million deaths
happen every year from harmful use of alcohol.
We don’t even know how many farmers
commit suicide in India now. In 2016, India erased those statistics from its
records. Since the number of farmers choosing death became inconvenient for the
government, the National Crime Records Bureau was asked to delete farmer
suicides from its reports.
It is much easier to make euthanasia
legal. Just shed hypocrisy instead of crocodile tears.
I know one evil does not mitigate or
justify another. My point, however, is that allowing those who wish to put an
end to their life due to valid reasons needn’t shock us in a world where deaths
are taking place by the thousands every second. I know the practice of
euthanasia can be misused. We can only prevent the misuses as much as possible.
Isn’t alcohol misused? Do we ban alcohol because of that? Aren’t vehicles
misused? Isn’t technology misused? We continue to use vehicles and technology,
nevertheless.
Death is inevitable. It can be as
absurd as in the case of the Greek writer Aeschylus. The great man was sitting
in the open air when an eagle mistook his head for a rock and dropped the
tortoise it was carrying right on to the writer’s head. The eagle’s intention
was to get the tortoise shell broken. But it cost the life of one of the finest
tragedians of Greece.
Death can come in any guise. There is
no harm in letting people choose a dignified version of it if they prefer.
The death of Aeschylus illustrated in the 15th century Florentine Picture Chronicle by Maso Finiguerra
PS. This post is part of #BlogchatterA2Z 2023
Yesterday’s: DOGmatism
Tomorrow: Friendship
Voluntary death is very difficult choice. I have never been able to fathom the good and bad of Euthanasia. Your post made for thoughtful read.
ReplyDeleteI'm quite sure that a time comes in many people's lives when they would like to make a choice to end the misery. It won't be a difficult choice, my mind tells me.
DeleteA great read and I echo your thoughts! But have we reached the maturity as a nation to legalise Euthanasia? We are busy renaming cities, erasing history and playing victim games ! I don't think we as a nation are ready to understand that death has to be dignified when people are busy making lives of the ones alive more and more difficult.
ReplyDeleteYes, Chinmayee, you are absolutely right and you put it as elegantly as possible too. But if I can initiate a debate on this I'd be more than satisfied for now. We as a nation need to think about real issues rather than play with imaginary fears.
DeleteFinally an article i can forward to the detractors of euthanasia. i second your opinion. I also second what the comment above mine says, India as a nation might never reach that maturity. We're too busy with ways to make life painful..
ReplyDeleteChinmayee certainly has a very valid point.
DeleteGreat article
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteLike you, I'd 'hate to lie in a bed in utter helplessness and hopelessness, depending on someone else for everything. I would embrace death gladly in such a situation.'
ReplyDeleteMy family know this.
This year I've seen two instances (parents of close friends) who would've preferred to 'go' in grace rather than linger on in the state they were/are in if they had a lawful choice to end life. But, sadly, that's not the case.
There's something about 'life' that makes lawmakers hesitant to legalize euthanasia and ban abortions. Is it guilt? I wonder.
This is a tricky debate. I hope it becomes a more open and constructive one.
Indeed, Arti, we should debate this openly. A lot of issues can be settled with open debates. Our country which was known for debates has now become terribly narrow-minded and prohibitive.
DeleteGood thought provoking read.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear this.
DeleteI am a believer of euthanasia...though some people might call it immoral. I believe there should be dignity in death, and Euthanasia provides that dignity to a certain extent. I do agree with Chinmayee's comment though, that as a nation I do not think we are ready for it
ReplyDeleteWhat inspires me is that there are people like you and Chinmayee and others who think about this seriously. That's already a step ahead. 👍
DeleteHari OM
ReplyDeleteHear! Hear! Could't have said it better myself. In the case of the wife, of course, it was not euthenasia but outright suicide. Given that suicides have become something of their own 'pandemic' a look at quality of life in all respects seems called for. Great article. YAM xx
I have seen a lot of people suffering unnecessarily in the fag end. It has to end once and for all, some of them know. Maybe very few. Let those few end it as merrily as they can. With a song on their lips. Or a joke like Socrates.
DeleteEuthanasia is a boon when a human being is helpless in the bed. Well written.
ReplyDeleteThat final helplessness is what calls for redemption.
DeleteI agree. No argument.
ReplyDeleteThank you and let's hope at least 1% of Indians will begin to agree.
DeleteI echo your thoughts too, but then when we say all life is precious it becomes difficult to convince that letting go can be better. Many many people would want a dignified death, but then who is to define those parameters can be very tough.
ReplyDeleteIt is tough. But one can decide for oneself at least. I can express my desire to be given the injection if and when the time comes. And that desire should be respected.
DeleteIn Mahabharata Bhishm Pitamaha had the boon of Icchhamrityu which I guess now can be termed as euthanasia. The only thing is to find the most dignified way of doing it without blaming anyone in the family or the society. In the animal world it's an acceptable norm. In case of humans it's debatable although at times it is a cruel fact that there is a limit to taking care as well. Even doing all you can you see your near and dear ones suffer ceaselessly just because God has His own timelines determined for every individual. Along with this it is also ironical that no syllabus teaches us how to handle death although it is the biggest inescapable truth of life.
ReplyDeleteEuthanasia is passive or active. Animals practise passive euthanasia by not doing anything to prolong the ending. I'm for active euthanasia in my case. Let me choose my death. No one need have any objection to that.
DeleteI'm with you in the suggestion about instructing people about facing death.
Euthanasia has been a moral debate for decades now. I also feel that life has to be lived with dignity. If not, a person suffers needlessly. However, there are instances when people resort to unfair means to end lives. How do we prevent such cases?
ReplyDelete