My mother was paralysed in the last four years of her life. During that period, she made four trips to the hospital. Her last trip was in 2001, and as she was being moved out of our home, she remarked that to her it looked like a bad penny, meaning it was unlikely she would be back. Her stay lasted three weeks, of which the last was in a deep coma.
Her parameters showed she was sinking, and the physician called me to his office on a Friday evening to inform me of her condition. He asserted point blank that she would never recover from where she was, and suggested that if she were taken off the ventilator she wouldn't last even a half-hour on her own. I was asked to take a decision. The most difficult one in my life up to then or ever since. He asked me to sit outside, think about it, and let him know.
My mind was wracked with controversial thoughts? Would I be murdering my mother? Or would I be doing a genuinely merciful thing? Maybe the hospital needed her bed; we had heard of that too. One never knows the exact motive.
My response was to let her be as she was, on the ventilator; but in the event of an emergency, she was not to be saved , as she was on two previous occasions, with injections given directly into the heart. If she had to go, I said, let her. I knew I was "playing" with a life. I prayed fervently that I had not sinned, and if I had, for His forgiveness this one time.
"So you're saying no heroic measures to be taken?" were his exact words. "That's right," I replied.
Monday night, a few minutes after midnight, her call came.
My friend, I don't know her name, but I will call out "dearly beloved mother of Wisdom Tooth" for you at that time tonight. I think it safer to assume that the doctor's information was sincere. Modern medicine is creating a terrible thing when it artificially prolongs life beyond the ability to enjoy it. It sounds as though your mother herself recognised this as she went in for the last time. So no, an instance like this is not murder. It is simple allowing nature to take its course. In countries where euthanasia is not legal, a person, while fully compis mentis, can write an Advanced Health Directive specifying the exact measures to be taken in the event of specific medical conditions if unable to communicate at the time. There are special forms, available free, one can fill out which assist in making all the necessary choices.
Euthanasia is more active. It requires that one is assisted to die without pain, or does it oneself. To get assistance one must travel to a country where it is legal. To do it oneself one must have the means and do it before one loses the ability to do it. Quite often, people who have arranged to be able to don't actually do it - it just comforts them to know that they have the option if things get too unbearable.
EXIT is the international society which advocates in favour of the right to euthanasia and which informs its members on the methods of how to attain a painless death.
Peter Singer has written a chapter on the topic in his book, "Practical Ethics." Among other things, it outlines all the legal constraints necessary to ensure that the right to euthanasia not be misused.
This post was edited by Benedict Arnold at December 5, 2016 1:03 AM MST
I'd have to KNOW. I would have to be absolutely certain that it was the right choice. I certainly would be open to it rather than not allowing it into my psyche. I cannot stand to watch anything suffer except Donald Trump, of course. But besides him, I would opt to be an instrument of their peace rather than watch like a coward, as they scream for mercy and there is none in sight for maybe weeks or months? How about longer? No. I would do what needed to be done at the behest of the person suffering. But I would have to KNOW in my gut I was doing the right thing. Me and God would be talking beforehand.
I trust that you would be in communion with Sai Baba and after deep meditation would choose your actions in accordance with vairaagya and prema.
Personally, I could not do such a thing unless the person had clearly told me their wishes beforehand. At least, I don't think I could. One never really knows what one is made of until confronted by a situation.
Kittigate 