Euthanasia – what’s meant by that?
I came across this word, when suddenly I thought, “what the heck is this?” First look I saw some Asian type of something, maybe their dishes, or perhaps their fashion, or whatever.
But then I was a bit shocked to see the real meaning of the word – Euthanasia.
Euthanasia is a practice or an act of ending someone’s life which is suffering from a serious illness or an incurable condition.
Euthanasia is usually done by lethal injection or the suspension of extraordinary medical treatment.
The term euthanasia was reportedly comes from the Greek words “eu” and “thanatos” which combined means “good death”.
Euthanasia may be conducted in three ways, which are passively, non-aggressively, and aggressively.
Passive euthanasia needs a process which withholding the common treatments such as antibiotics, drugs, or surgery. Included, the distribution of a medication such as morphine to relieve pain, knowing that it may also result in death.
Non-aggressive euthanasia is done by withdrawing of life support, like cutting of the respirator or ventilator, which is more controversial.
Aggressive euthanasia entails the use of lethal substances or force to kill, which is also known as “mercy killing.” It involves the termination of life as painlessly as possible such as by an injection of lethal medications, and is the most controversial means. Courts are struggling with this area of law which is also known as “assisted suicide.”
Therefore, passive euthanasia is the most accepted form, and it is a common practice in most hospitals.
As for me, I realized that in some cases, decision making is indeed the hardest part, especially when it involves the words human, lives, and killing.
In our religion, we don’t do this practice theoretically. But in the real life, practically, true definitions, I have to say we use it, sometimes, depends on the situation, and also the methodology, which I mentioned earlier.
I had a friend involved in a road accident, suffered in a serious injury. There was blood coming out from all over the body.
At that time, I could see the doctors, nurses and all the hospital workers did nothing to her. Instead, they left her on the bed, with some wires, respirator, ventilator, alarms here and there.
Her parents and all the visitors, relatives, friends, were praying for her. But later then, she left us forever.
This particular case was for me indeed a passive type of euthanasia. In the principles of the religion, we could not, in any way, to perform this practice. But when we look deep down into that situation, we don’t have any other choice, rather than leaving it that way.
In another case for reference, just look back in 1975, where the term “right to Die” existed somewhere in the US. This case happened to a 21-year-old girl. They called her the “Sleeping Beauty” when she slipped in a coma for almost a decade, after having a party, accidentally overdosed on barbiturates, alcohol, and Valium.
Her family, after seeing the very bad condition, request for appropriate surrogates, to remove her from life support. But then the case captivated the nation.
The public debated who was responsible for the decision to maintain or disconnect the machines and the indignity of being kept alive by medical technology.
But then the hospital side refuses to make it happens, which led to 9 and a half years more of food and medical supplies on her. Later then, she died from pneumonia in 1985.
What say you?
2 days ago my old stock standard Honda cub has been confiscated by the damn police. The police officer than asked my mother-in-law for RM100, and she gave it. I hate this really bad. I swear to God I’ll punch him on his face if I met him again next time.
