EUTHANASIA

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Death has a way of making us think deeply about our life and existence. If anything, death is certain, life is not. We all know we are going to die someday but the question is when and how? I have always thought of dying in my sleep as the most ideal way to die, without pain or suffering. It is a taboo to talk about death in this way. Most people would rather avoid the details. Life is too precious to be contemplating death. There is even a negative stigma on those who don't life value as much. Life is more important than death, even though many will never truly live.

My mum's friend lost her husband a couple of days back after months of trying to preserve his life. This came at a huge economic cost. They practically lost everything trying to preserve his life. Now he is gone and their lives -- hers and her kids, are a living hell. There was practically nothing they could do about his situation pinpoint what was wrong with him medically after series of tests, but they kept on pushing because that's what you do when you love somebody, you don't just let them die.

What's worst than dying?

If I ever have a terminal illness, the last thing I would ever want to see the people I care lose it all trying to save me. I would rather die. Yes, I will choose death a thousand times over such emotional and economical torture. I guess this is the same reason my dad never agreed on selling our property to cover his medical expenses. We would probably be in the worst financial state if he had died. That was a sacrifice he had to make and I would do the same if need be.

I first heard about euthanasia was on the news. A woman who was diagnosed with cancer decided that it was best to die than let her condition deteriorate. She was laid to rest in her bedroom with her husband beside her. That was a power scene for me. Rather than let cancer decided her fate, she took matters into her own hands. She took charge of her life, and death.

A lot of people still consider euthanasia as unethical. Just like freedom of speech, most people are fixated on the negatives than the positives. Life is precious but not at the expense of the people I care about and certainly not at the expense of being in a vegetated state. I don't consider that as bravery but cowardice--holding on to something that you know is long gone. I saw my father and sister go in the worst way and that's not something I wish on everyone. I carry those scars with me forever. Those are not the last memories you want of the people you care about.