Reader revert

Voluntary option to die
I am of the opinion that euthanasia or ‘mercy killing’ needs to be legalised, as it is pointless in making a patient suffer from a terminal disease. Instead of forcing such a patient to face death every moment, it will be prudent to permit him to exit. This will also be a source of relief to the patient’s near and dear ones, as they may not want to see the patient struggling and suffering on the death bed. 
In fact, the society will be doing a favour by resorting to ‘mercy killing’ by relieving the person who is in a vegetative state. In the cases of patients who are severely ill, a point of ‘no return’ may be reached where it is obvious that further treatment is futile. Let’s not forget that healthcare is primarily meant to lessen a patient’s suffering and not to deny relief to them.
As stated sometime back by Dr. Surendra Dhelia of The Society for Right to Die with Dignity, “Most doctors at some point have practised euthanasia but since it is illegal, they cannot say so. Legalising it would make the procedure more transparent.” Not giving aggressive treatment is a form of euthanasia and making it legal will be beneficial for the patient and his/her relatives. This will also save the lives of others for whom the organs of brain-dead patients can be harvested.
Is not keeping the patient in a prolonged vegetative state violating his/her right to live with dignity as guaranteed by Article 21 (the right to life) of the Constitution? It is a medico-legal issue coupled with social and religious repercussions that cannot be decided by a stroke of a pen or by any authority. The question that crops up here is the aspect of ‘euthanasia’, literally meaning ‘good death’ in Greek, which is illegal in our country.
The right to life can also be interpreted to mean that due to a terminal disease, a person can decide to not live, if he/she so prefers. If medical science cannot cure a terminally ill patient, it can at least lessen the span of the suffering by allowing the patient to depart, provided his/her close relatives permit such an act. If death is certain in the near future, why prolong a patient’s suffering and why make the agony last longer? 
As individuals possess the fundamental right to life, they should have a similar right to end their lives purely on medical grounds. There is no sense in just keeping the brain-dead patient on a ventilator for days together and witness their painful struggle. Moreover, there are a number of cases where the relatives simply cannot afford to foot the huge medical expenses. 
- Prem K. Menon, Parel resident

        

          

            
          
        
      
Everlasting existence?
The death of Aruna Shanbaug has brought out extreme views on euthanasia. It is true that life is meant to be lived. But are we obsessed with the idea of everlasting existence on earth. Shanbaug was struggling in a vegetative state for 42 years, with no hope, dreams, family or laughter. Maybe we are stuck with the notion that death is an end but maybe, it’s just a new beginning. There is a quote in one of the Harry Potter books where Dumbeldore is about to duel with Voldemort, where he says, “Your failure to understand that there are things much worse than death has always been your greatest weakness.” Maybe in cases like that of Aruna Shanbaug, we need to understand that their state of despair is much worse than death itself. We have to accept that they cannot continue to suffer and that we should let them pass forward in their journey, with dignity.
- Muhammad Samran, Nishanpada Road, South Mumbai resident