Euthanasia: Murder or Mercy Killing?
At some sad moment in time, there comes the end chapter. It is the end chapter of a loved one. Everyone knows it is coming, the question is only "when"? You might be a teen or in your prime, you might be middle age when the issue might cross your mind about a loved one that is ending, forever.
Euthanasia is also called mercy killing, murder or assisted suicide. Death is the final frontier, where no man has gone and come back with proof what else happens, if anything. When someone has been given a death sentence, medically speaking, hospice usually kicks in. The person is moved out of the care unit and into another building with only minimal care at the last wishes of the person. There is nothing more to do. This time might be days or months.
What if your loved one pull you close to them, and in a weak whisper said, "Please kill me, I want to go". Your immediate reaction would be pull back. You would be against such a thing. Why? Because it is your loved one? Because you would consider it murder? What if your loved one was in such condition that there was no real quality of life by any meager standard? What if they are just wasting away in some expensive $5000 a month care home that you dread going to even once a month? At what point would you think. I can no longer afford this, it is breaking me financially and if they continue living I will go broke? What then? Yes, they are loved ones and the dilemma of what to do is every persons potential nightmare, if they are not healthy. It can happen anytime, out of the blue. We never think of it because we do not want to think of it.
Mercy Killing is not murder, neither is euthanasia, if the person is requesting it. Doctors actually do it in other ways, all the time. Say, a person, 85 yrs. has a major heart issue. The doctor presents the options and costs and outcomes. Doing a major operation on this age is not really a benefit and chances are greater that it might get worse. So, a decision is made to do nothing and let the person live out his life. A month later they die. If the person was only 55, a doctor would almost insist on doing the operation. It s just a longer length of time. In the 85 yr. old. example, what if they wanted to die? They would be ignored, why? It is their life, their decision.
Mercy killings also happen under the disguise of DNR codes in hospitals. DNR is do not resuscitate. The person would wants will have a clause in their Will or trust. The clause usually is written stating that if their life had no quality to it and they are in a coma, or, vegetative state, and they stop breathing, DNR. Do not attempt to save them, let them die.
How is this any different than a loved one whispering while in pain and with no hope of recovery asking for death? Yes, there is the act of ending their life, but the intent is mercy and goodwill, it is with love not malice.
I think it should be allowed and not a crime. Sometimes, letting go is the best for those slowly dying and for those trying to move on.
