I feel the same as Josephine, who says in her blog she was against euthanasia but now understands its not that bad. For years i was totally against it, believing everyone should be grateful for every single second they have on this earth. I couldn't understand how anyone would want to take their own life, and felt euthanasia and suicide were both selfish.Everything changed when i watched a documentary on the subject. It featured a number of terminally ill patients who were all going over to Switzerland to end their lives because they felt it was to unbearable to continue. I remember one guy who had about three months left to live. He told his story of a happy family life, kids, work, and explained how he was grateful for everything God had given him. But due to cancer his quality of life had all but gone. He could not go to the toilet on his own and to him, this was the final straw, and felt that this was the last loss of dignity he could take. He explained he could not sleep every night because all he could think about was the burden he felt he had become to his family and friends. So he decided to fly to Switzerland to end his life in a specially equipped hospital. At first his family were totally against it, and the guy felt guilty because the act of euthanasia was against both his and his families religion. Eventually his family came to respect his wishes and the trip was planned.
At the hospital he kissed each member of his family good bye, thanked them for the w
onderful life and great times they had given him, then finally he kissed his wife and asked her to forgive him for not having the strength and being able to endure the final few months of pain he had left. She said she had no regrets and respected him and his decision. Then he pressed a button on a machine that was attached to his body which first sent him into a deep sleep, and then injected drugs which stopped his heart beating. Once the machines stopped bleeping, all the family said their final tearful good byes and that was it.
onderful life and great times they had given him, then finally he kissed his wife and asked her to forgive him for not having the strength and being able to endure the final few months of pain he had left. She said she had no regrets and respected him and his decision. Then he pressed a button on a machine that was attached to his body which first sent him into a deep sleep, and then injected drugs which stopped his heart beating. Once the machines stopped bleeping, all the family said their final tearful good byes and that was it.I must admit that i found it extremely painful and saddening viewing. I could not understand why choose an early death, but then i thought about being in his shoes, with the loss of dignity, pride, privacy, and feeling a burden. I soon realised that if i was in the same position (God forbid) i would choose the same option.
The documentary completely changed my views on euthanasia and made me believe that in certain circumstances, it may be the right path to take. I also realised that everyone should have the right to choose when to end their life, and that it has nothing at all to do with the government.
I have never watched a documentary since that showed such gritty, emotional, and tearful scenes, nor have i seen a documentary since that has made me loose so many nights sleep.
I understand why some religions are against it, but i also now see that it should be the individuals choice when to end their life. After all, we are all each responsible for our lives and everything that go's on in them, so why should we not be allowed when to choose our own hour of death? If a person is in pain with a poor quality of life, as long as they are of sound mind, who should have the authority to stop them ending their misery?
The wife of the guy in the documentary said that because she did not have to watch her husband wither away to nothing and die at home, she had only good memories of his life and death. She said that at the time he pressed the button to end his life, she had never seen him so content and happy since the time he was struck down by cancer. She also said that once it was found out he had only months to live, she had decided to sell the house they had lived in all of their married life because she could not bear to stay in the same place where she had watched her husband die. But because he had chosen when and where to die, she could now continue to live in their home, and have the option to reminisce and think about the happy times they had shared.This shows that euthanasia does have its benefits, both for the dying and their families. It gives a final choice to people who do not want to die a horrible, painful and undignified death in front of their loved ones. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but i agree with Josephine, that in certain circumstances, euthanasia should be an option available to all. It saves a lot of pain, tears and heartache, and while some may not agree with it, this does not mean it should be bad and illegal and not an available option to the dying.
This BBC website has some excellent links and news articles covering euthanasia, including the legal and moral debates, and the different angles people take on the topic.
References & sites used
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