CONTEST NO. #125 - EUTHANASIA: AGREEING WITH THIS WAY OF DYING

EUTHANASIA

Euthanasia is a controversial topic that has been debated for many years. It is a painless killing of someone suffering from an incurable disease like stroke, cancer, dementia, Alzheimer's disease, etc. Sometimes these conditions never get reversed medically. Most of the patients end up in a coma for many days. In fact it’s a thought-provoking topic. However, I believe and agree that Euthanasia can be a dignified way of dying and should be considered valid when someone is having unbearable pain or a prolonged loss of consciousness with no hope in view.

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I have a few points to prove my argument. I have seen quite a few patients suffering and causing pain to the caregiver. Let's look at this:

1.A well-known family friend of mine cared for their mother with a stroke for over 10 years with several huge amounts of money spent on medication just to keep her alive. During the first 5 years of giving her all the needed attention they spent money and her condition degenerated to include dementia. They continued managing her to the extent of giving up but because she was their mother, there kept bearing the burden. Euthanasia could have been the best option for her to avoid prolonging her life under pain and suffering over 10 years period.

She should decide to end her life since she could not survive this painful terminal disease. After all those years she died at last.

2.It is very burdensome for doctors trying to manage a person with a terminal disease. The only compassionate way to say goodbye to a loved one calmly in a peaceful mood is through Euthanasia. It is not wise to continue seeing relative suffering for a long time. Here in Africa, some people will start praying that it is better for such a patient to die than face such untold suffering and hardship both financially and otherwise in other to relieve all the caregivers involved.

3.Although it is a personal decision, life becomes painful and meaningless to a person with a terminal illness. What is he/she enjoying again? Good food, family discussions, restful sleep, societal association, earning a meaningful living – all these are no longer in place. To dignify life, Euthanasia is the best option for such a person to end her life, than for family and friends coming to watch and asking if she is still breathing? But Euthanasia is not committing suicide.

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Ending this controversial topic from my personal opinion, I maintain the fact that when an individual is facing a terminal illness with an unbearable pain of no cure, euthanasia is the only option. From the example I cited at the beginning of my discussion, the woman eventually died while suffering under pain, if she had ended her life earlier, all the family members would have been spared from the unnecessary burden of care and loss of money throughout those years. Their grief for the loss would have been reduced.

I love life so dearly and I believe you do too.

Did you learn something new from my argument? See you on our next topic.