Mercy Killing - is it justified?
Mercy Killing - is it justified?
Introduction:
In the wake of decriminalization of suicide act, CPM MP raised the debate on euthanasia. Euthanasia has been another pending issue with multifaceted opinions coming from different sections of people since a very long time. There have been some exceptional cases where SC allowed passive euthanasia and some cases where pleas were made for mercy killing but the court denied their pleas for there were sections of people against this move. Patients with serious ailment where there are no chances of recovery, passive euthanasia is called for to alleviate the patient of the unremitting pain he/she must be going through.
Yes, Euthanasia should be legalized:
1. Life is priceless and ending it is not a happy scene for anyone, even difficult is the situation of the near and dear ones. However, seeing a dear one in extreme pain for an unending period of time and when the chances of revival is near to none, euthanasia is the way of alleviating their pain. Leaving such patients to suffer torments not just the patient but also their family members.
2. There are cases where doctors notify the patients that treatment would not be able to cure them and the pain and cost of being under life support system is unbearable to them; the patient should have the right to opt for euthanasia.
3. The pain of waiting for death to come, knowing that it would come any while, is traumatizing and fearful. In these situations, the individual should have the right to decide for themselves.
4. Even when euthanasia is not legal, some hospitals still practice it illegally and the family members of the patients choose these hospitals to handle such cases. Making it legal would call for distinguishing between passive and forced euthanasia.
No, Euthanasia should not be legalized:
1. It is immoral to take away one’s life in the name of “mercy killing.” Life and death are natural processes and humans cannot interfere to decide when the life of an innocent should be terminated on any ground.
2. In cases of mentally ill patients, euthanasia is completely immoral as there are care units by government along with rehabilitation centers to take care of these patients. There are alternatives than killing them just to get rid of the pain they are unknowingly causing someone.
3. Legalizing euthanasia will worsen illegal practices of wrongfully terminating life of elderly people to inherit their property or for other unethical reasons. Unlawful practices will emerge and crimes of practicing euthanasia on healthy people will take over.
4. India is not free of corruption, rules are being broken in every sphere of life and innocents are being killed every day. India is not currently in the state of legalizing laws such as euthanasia and won’t be ready for it until people fear the trials of rules breaking.
5. There is no such thing as deciding whether or not a patient can revive after years of treatment. Medical science is continuously developing and cures are accessible to even the most deadly of diseases. Euthanasia will be a setback to this development.
Conclusion:
The decision of whether or not to legalize euthanasia needs thoughtful consideration along with the valuable suggestions of medical professionals and experts on this issue. Mercy killing might look cruel most of the times, but there are cases where the decision has to be taken to rescue the patient of its sufferings.
Discussion
- RE: Mercy Killing - is it justified? -Tobias (05/01/15)
- Amid all the arguments justifying euthanasia on the grounds of easing the suffering of patients, may I know what is the guarantee that terminating life support will lead to lesser pain. I mean, can we completely ignore the belief in afterlife. Of course, that is an important question, though I am not passing a judgement on it.
- RE: Mercy Killing - is it justified? -rajni (04/28/15)
- Yes , I staunchingly support it as it not only helps who is in pain but saves him from more pain and his relatives as they also suffer at the same time.relief from pain justifies it. So it should be allowed.
- RE: Mercy Killing - is it justified? -Gaurav Somwanshi (12/22/14)
- Mercy killing or euthanasia involves the action of voluntarily ending one's life, and in mercy killing this decision is taken by the close relatives or doctors. Here we are discussing the act of terminating life before its natural end, and this is done mostly in cases of debilitating, incurable, and painful diseases. Is this right?
We must go to the recently deceased Brittany Maynard to probe for deeper understanding. Brittany Maynard was diagnosed with brain cancer, and she was given 6 months to live as per the doctors. The progression of disease would have resulted not just in severe, unceasing pain, but also changes in personality and normal behavior, which can often be traumatic not just for the patient but especially the relatives. To avoid this, Brittany referred to the 'Oregon Death with Dignity Act' and chose to end her own life at her home on 1st November, 2014.
There are many more like her with terminal illnesses, who seek to end their life on their own terms and not be crushed by the bulldozer of a disease. Of course, there are many who would prefer to live till the maximum extent possible facing all the bad effects of a disease bravely, and their decision is admirable too. But here there should be an availability of choice, the freedom to decide, and the control of one's own fate. And this is at the core of the euthanasia debate, where many times the patient himself/herself is unable to take any conscious decision and the relatives are supposed to take the call. If the illness or coma is irreversible, and has left the patient in a permanent vegetative state, the decision to terminate the life of the patient must be available to the relatives or the doctors. Hence, the issue of euthanasia or mercy killing must be engaged with greater openness, instead of treating it as an absolute taboo. - RE: Mercy Killing - is it justified? -Deepa Kaushik (12/18/14)
- Mercy killing or Euthanasia is a means to relieve the pain and suffering of the individual. Every person carries some reason to lead his life. Pain is nothing new or specific to a group of people. Pain and sufferings are universal, though the intensity may vary from person-to-person.
When we ask for the justification of mercy killing from emotional point of view, then yes it is very much justified. Rather than letting the person suffer and bear the agony between life and death, it is far better to end his life and give him the permanent sigh of relief. Again, it needs to be considered whether the person requesting the mercy killing is in his conscious state of mind. The person who is suffering should be in a state of good mental health and in case of physically handicapped, they need the support of the family or physician to place the request. If anybody else is permitted to place the request, that would pave way for some crook headed criminal brains.
Now, the way how to place the request will create some loopholes, as a written or typed content by any other with just a sign could lead to forgery and murder. So, the request necessarily needs to be a personal one with the main sanctioning official directly. With lot many critical clause in hand, the law needs to be implemented for the mercy killing.
Here the debate will again arise for those who are incapable of communicating by any means but their suffering face pleases for the same. Or, a mentally deranged person at a terminal stage of illness would be devoid of his right. Analysing the pros and cons of the issue, implementing mercy killing as a law will just lead to more problems and increased crime incidences. Still, emotions do support the state that mercy killing is justified.
- RE: Mercy Killing - is it justified? -priyanka (12/16/14)
- euthanasia should not be legalized...people in india are already experts in submitting the false proofs.so if it get legalized probability of healthy people getting killed rises..though it is necessary for people suffering from intense pain ,probability that the law could be used in a wrong way is very high...as it told before it is easy for indians to submit a false proof and make judgements in favor of them
