Is it time to say Yes to Passive Euthanasia?

Is it time to say Yes to Passive Euthanasia?

In the latest news on Euthanasia, The Supreme Court on Wednesday, July 16 issued notice to all states to come up with their opinions on the problem whether a terminally ill person should be given a right for a living will if he or she has to face vegetative state in the future with no hope of revival? The debate on Passive Euthanasia is not something new. It has always drawn debates from different groups of societies. However, this time it seems the matter might take a new turn. So, it is time to say Yes for Passive Euthanasia?

Yes

• First of all coming to the religious considerations, it cannot override people’s suffering and the pain they are going through.

• Coming to the legal living will, people make will for all the things they possess and even life is their own personal right.

• Chances of misuse of every law exist, and even all the laws are misused. It doesn’t means that government will ban all the laws or will stop making new laws.

• The probability of people recovering from the vegetative state is rare, so the action should be taken in favor of the cases where the probability of happenings is high.

• Take out the religious belief out of law making as if it was the case Sati system must still have prevailed in India.

• India is a country where patients are more and health services and equipments are less. Therefore, it becomes important to use the equipments for the people who have higher chances of recovery.

No

• The issue itself is controversial and full of confusions as there is a need to define the types of sufferings or problems that will be covered under the law.

• The medical sciences is making advances day by day and the latest example is of Michael Schumacher who regained consciousness after being in state of coma for six months.

• Human organ trafficking is going on at large scale in India. The law can be an encouraging force for the illegal elements.

• Another issue concerned with the matter is whose call will it be - whether the person can opt for Euthanasia- Doctor, Family or Patient.

• Some people argued that patient in his own mind set can ask for Euthanasia but if he is mentally fit, and physically challenged how can he ask for it?

• The most important point is pain, sufferings or severity of any disease cannot be quantified in any case.

• The countries like Australia and Ireland withdrew the law of Euthanasia when they saw the drawbacks were more.

• It will discourage the medical experts to go ahead and devote their time in research and development of new medical products.

Conclusion

Sufferings are a part of human life. Euthanasia in any case cannot provide relief to the sufferings of the people. The percentage of people who stay in vegetative state with no hope of recovery is very small. The laws are made when a higher percentage of people are suffering from the problem. For a small percentage of people, government cannot go ahead and give way to multiple problems associated with the new low. In case of providing relief to some persons, it will open way for the other elements to misuse the law in all the possible ways.