Will you ever consider mercy killing?
By Ladyslipper
@Ladyslipper (1327)
Philippines
January 21, 2010 5:12pm CST
Some people consider mercy killing as normal while others consider it as taboo and against medical ethics. Medical practitioners vowed that they will save people lives so it has been a long time debate whether it is acceptable for a medical practitioner to perform mercy killing. One of my girl best friends' father is a Doctor who was condemned by his siblings due to mercy killing. Honestly, if I will be in his situation it will be hard for me to make a decision especially if the person involved is one of my family members. My best friend's grandmother has been in comatose for almost 2 years already. She's in her eightie's already. My best friend's father was her grandmother's personal doctor. One day the whole family finally met to decide on what to do with my best friend's grandma. Her father suggested mercy killing. If mercy killing will be performed it has to be approved by a family member and It would be one of the family members who will turn off the machine that is giving life to the comatose person. My best friend's aunts and uncles did not agree with her father's idea. They think it is not right to take her grandma's life because according to them she is fighting to continue living. My best friend's father reasoned out that as a personal doctor he is aware that their mother will no longer be able to recover in her comatose stage and it is only the machine now that is giving her life. He said it is not practical and they are not giving their mother a favor. He said let her rest. She looks so tired. Let her have peace. According to my best friend's father it is also hard for him to do this since he was their mother's favorite. Their mother lived with him and his family. He was the closest to their mother. But then he does not want to give false hope to all of them. He said that he is a family member. He is not some Doctor outside of the family who wants their mother to stay alive because of the machines attached to her body so that the family could continue paying a handsome amount of money for the hospital bills.The discussion ended with the other sibling not agreeing with the Doctor's decision. However, he still continued to do what he thinks is best for all of them especially for their mother. His brothers and sisters were so mad at him. How about you, will you ever consider mercy killing if the same situation happens to you?
5 responses
@obe212003 (2299)
• Philippines
22 Jan 10
Mercy killing is the last option available if the patient is in a terminal phase of life. No one lives forever and on the late stages of life comes the inevitable, being prone to a lot of illnesses caused by advanced age, tear and wear of the body organs, body parts, et cetera. i think that every doctor always try to give an honest diagnosis and prognosis to every patient. In this case, for practical reasons, almost two years of comatose and the increasing expenses including time rendered by family,the doctor just did the right decision. Even if she comes out of the comatose, i think she would not be the same as before and would continue to decline with her quality of life and thus causing more pain and suffering.
@Ladyslipper (1327)
• Philippines
22 Jan 10
You explained it well. I just hope that eventually his family will understand his decision.
@Ladyslipper (1327)
• Philippines
22 Jan 10
You explained it well. I just hope that eventually his family will understand his decision.
@Ladyslipper (1327)
• Philippines
22 Jan 10
You explained it well. I just hope that eventually his family will understand his decision.
@besthope44 (12123)
• India
2 Apr 10
Well, i dont think its wrong, after all we help them from further struggles and worries. I would feel that way you are resting them in peace and happiness.
@Ladyslipper (1327)
• Philippines
6 Apr 10
Sometimes its easier to say it than do it. Practicality wise I don't think it's wrong. However, if It will be in that situation and it's my mother who's involve I don't think I'd be able to handle this situation. I would be torn between my love for my mother and what's best for everyone. :(
@oscarbartoni (2581)
• United States
22 Jan 10
If is is against Good's will to kill, then why do we put animals out out their suffering? We are animals too. I would not wish to prolong my "life" if it was going to end soon or I was not going to be able to recover from a terminal disease, I would wish to be taken off of machines that keep me "alive" artificially. That is unless they are going to harvest some of my organs for transplanting into other people that may live because of these organs.Do not let me suffer and my family suffer financially because the hospitals wish to get richer off of my illness.
@Ladyslipper (1327)
• Philippines
6 Apr 10
Yes you have a point. That is also my opinion if I'll be in this situation. If I'll be the person in coma I'd rather rest than live forever with the machine attached to me. However, the hard part here is we will never know what the person in coma wants. It could be that the person still wants to live and is still fighting for life. We really can't tell.
@Ladyslipper (1327)
• Philippines
6 Apr 10
I'd also feel the same way. You see how hard it is to decide in this situation especially when it's your parents or someone really important to you is the one involve. I can't imagine myself deciding whether my mother's life has to go on or if it's time for her life to end. :(
@rene12 (794)
• Philippines
21 Jan 10
For personal reasons like you don't want him/her to suffer more with circumstances like we are stranded in an island and there is no help coming. I think that mercy killing is the best way to handle it. If they requested for it, why do we need to let them suffer more right?
It is really on the situation if mercy killing is really appropriate or not :D
