It were two consenting adults when I or for that matter any of us were born but it would be the consent of, makers of law of the land where I live, the religion I follow and the code and ethics of the society to which I belong (seemingly) that would decide my fate, if I today choose to embrace death. I would be looking for the consent of all these people who comprise my world if today my body, a bubble floating over the thorny bushes, collapses. If today I am left, due to a mishap, as a mere vegetating human body, I would need the permission from others to end my sufferings, and most probably I won't be allowed to do that.
What an irony! Neither I am here by my choice, nor can I leave the world by my choice, in a respectful dignified way. Killing oneself still happens to be a crime, as is mercy killing or euthansia.
Euthansia - the word with works as the spine of the hindi movie "Guzarish" (meaning a request or appeal) - for a man paralyzed for life - requests the law to give him dignity in death and permit him to end his sufferings, as a man who can only think, speak or move his head, but cannot move an inch even to shoo a fly away from his face.
What is Euthanasia:
Euthanasia is a Greek word meaning 'good death' and refers to the practices of ending life in a painless manner. It is illegal in India and most countries of the world. Only ten odd countries have legalised the practice of mercy killing
Euthanasia conducted with the consent of the patient is termed voluntary euthanasia. Voluntary euthanasia is legal in Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and the U.S. states of Oregon and Washington. When the patient brings about his or her own death with the assistance of a physician, the term assisted suicide is often used instead.
My opinion:
The movie brought out the plight of the one's who don't want to live any longer due to their deteriorated medical condition. As a matter of fact, life is more a punishment for them than death.
But, the law of our country, India and most the countries of the world have illegalized such an act.
I fail to understand, why in a world where people are burned, cut into pieces, shot at, killed, brutally injured without any one's permission - no law or religion sanctifies such actions - why does the rules, the laws, the dictates apply only and only to the one's who want to abide them?
As if saying, let's control the controllable and let go the uncontrollable. Why laws cannot change with time? Why does the suffering of a human being mean nothing.... why he is forced to live.... To be an example of courage?.... Why do we have to preach a terminally ill person to fight it out and give life a chance? Who are we to tell a person that?
A person with a body with which he cannot perform normal functions of life, but has a sound mind, should be heard and respected and not given sermons to be strong. See this to read a related news article, though old.
I am not encouraging suicide nor am I suggesting that we let people die at the drop of a hat, but don't take away the right to die - in the overzealous approach to Article 21 of Indian Constitution - Right to Life.
I, as a human being have the right to live and die with dignity.
What do you feel about it?
RESTLESS
image courtesy: http://new-right.blogspot.com/2010/06/euthanasia.html
21 comments:
it reminded of the debate we had on this topic back in 2006 in my school.
that day too we ended up in confusion whether or not euthanasia should be made legal in India or not....
i think it should be... at least there will be a "legal suicide" that too with consent of everyone.
thats my thought, ....
Deepika, yeah, agree with you. That way no one would be a criminal in death.
RESTLESS
After reading the whole thing, and agreeing with most of your views, at some corner of my mind, this thought is rising.. Who will decide whether all hope is lost for a patient? The patient him/her self, family or doctor? Can we rely on that judgement? I would like to elaborate on a "Guzarish" post in my blog. Hope you won't mind me adding this link there..
I am the master of my body,
I am the carrier of my soul,
when my mind is made, and its not a child's tantrum but a decision after careful thought, I feel, no one can stop me if I am done with it.
But sometimes, it is not an individual decision, yet sometimes we cannot help.
Hello Dear,
This is my First time at your blog & i found it amazing to read. I would love to be your friend. I came via Jack's blog.
Have a lovely day!
keep smiling & world will smile with you!
Love
Sabi Sunshine
Restless,
Read 2 posts now. Beautiful photpgraphs and apt cations in previous one. Nature has beauty which we can enjoy in each and every corner. On euthanasia, I feel that it should be person who should decide about it if he or she is beyond recovery and wishes to end pain, physical or emotional.
Take care
I am of the opinion that be it mercy killing or the death sentence of a criminal, or a forced encounter killing, the state doesn't have the right to take lives of its citizenry. The only countries where it is legalised are those who don't come directly under the roman church or rather the pope. Thats why they managed to have this law passed. Another point to be taken into account is the fact that in a country where even the post mortem report gets fudged, does mercy killing work in its intended form or it be misused? Right now i won't be advocating mercy killing. Though over time i may change my opinion. Also, the first two paras are beautifully written and expressed.
Nice Article very useful for me.Thank you
Harish,
sure, u can put a link here. I read u post btw, gave my anwer there. Glad to read ur opinion on it.
BA,
very nice lines. True, sometimes.
Sabi sunshine,
Hey Sabi dear, welcome to this blog! really happy to know u liked it. Surely will be in touch. You can also write me a mail.
Take care!
RESTLESS
Jack,
thanks.. glad u liked the pics and words :)
Good to know ur views on euthansia.
Neo, you are right, that is my fear too, when I advocate or rather express my views on this topic. It can always be misused. But then when u see the plight of ppl waiting to die, you want law to be more considerate towards them.
I believe, State must have the power, but it should be only for rarest cases (did u see my earlier comments about on custodial death of a rapist post? adressed to you?)
Neo, so glad that u noticed those two paras :)
Take care,
RESTLESS
Have spent an hour on your blog...Meaningful.
I was unfortunate enough to see my father suffer the worst possible death by Sarcoma. The memories are too painful. He pleaded to his darling daughter to let him go by hand gestures. He couldnt speak with all the tubes in his mouth. And I was helpless..Yes, he should have had the right to leave with dignity...but he suffered. We all did.
Only the misuse of euthanasia should be avoided.
The movie has rightly raised an important issue for debate. I say debate because there are many issues involved before 'mercy killing' is given a green signal. Unfortunately the film is not getting that much response but the debate has to continue to its logical end.
Just watched the movie driving an hour to a different city in rain. Awesome one it is and I too agree with euthanasia. I wrote a few lines long back about a fictional character being in a helpless state paralyzed completely. I have read about the kind of suffering they go through and I believe they deserve their right and their dignity.
But at the same time I am afraid about all illegal and fake things that might happen once such a thing is made legal.
A thought provoking post but people might take advantage in the name of mercy killing and somewhere I feel victims will quit from the fear of diseases like HIV, cancers and other life threatening conditions in the name of mercy killing.Strict law regarding this could only handle this matter and that too considering every aspect of disease and sufferings of the patients.
Alka - Oh, really sorry to know about your father. Seeing such cases I feel there should be a right on one's death.
And glad that u found my blog meaningful :)
Vee- that is the issue. u r right. sometime would like to read your fiction on this.
Pratibha - very valid points.
RESTLESS
somethng about the mvie... i felt it like a documentary or a poor tv debate on mercy killing. sanjay leela bansali just added some trademark glitz...thats all.
Neo, actually I wanted to write about the movie too, but did not want it to be a review of the movie.
There was of course some beauty about it. The frames were fabulous.
The subtelity of pain of Hritik could only be noticed by sensitive ppl. He acted well.
Aish was just out of the place, not suited for this role, too glamorous, was only good once, when she was drunk!!! in that song!
Another beautiful thing was the transition of emotions of the nurse aishwarya from being selfish to selfless. She was selfish when she didnot want hritik to die, as she had taken care of him for 12 years.
But she was selfless when she wanted his suffering to end, even at the cost of feeling lonely afterwards.
These subtle things of the story, am sure, has gone unnoticed in the loud drama, RJ concept and songs.
Did i bore you with my long comment ?!!!
I agree that everybody has a right to live with dignity and die with dignity too. being dependent on others completely and on a life support system is every old person's nightmare. If there is no cure, then euthanasia should be allowed.
Reema, glad u agree and understand. thanks for ur views.
oh no. not at all, but my perception of the movie differs. bansali's all movies are like that. lots of glitz and people tend to take it subtle, but it bores after a while. i know hrithik is a good actor, but there are better movies of his than this one as regards his performance.
aish i never considered her as a good actor. she is nothing more than just a pretty face. she just cant act.
It is remarkable, very amusing idea
Post a Comment