Euthanasia: Insight on End of Life Decisions

Twice in my life I have watched the health of a loved one deteriorate until their body could no longer support life on its own. Its like watching someone drown while holding a life preserver in your hand, except the victim has made a legal choice to refuse your help. In each case, a precarious but necessary decision was madewhether or not to allow euthanasia.

There are two types of euthanasia. Passive Euthanasia, which involves not taking action to prevent death, (when doctors refrain from using life support to prolong the life of a terminally ill patient) and active euthanasia, which requires an action on the part of a doctor or medical practitioner to pull the plug or administer a lethal injection to bring about the impending death of a critically ill patient.

Life support replaces a failing bodily function. When patients have treatable conditions, life support may be used temporarily while the condition is stabilized and the body is able to resume normal functioning. At times though, the body never regains its ability to function without life support. My grandfather refused to be placed on life support or be revived if he was code blue. My uncle, on the other hand, was placed on life support and suffered day after day while confined to a hospital bed for almost a year. Connected to tubes that fed him and machines that breathed for him, he could not talk or do anything for himselfthings a healthy person would take for granted. Both my grandfather and my uncle were dying a slow death. My grandfather refused the life preserver. My Uncle accepted a life raft with a slow leak in a sea of sharks.

Some people believe that it is not wise to circumvent the dying process. The late psychiatrist and famous author, Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, shared that her experience in working with thousands of dying patients and their families convinced her that euthanasia was wrong even for patients with terminal illness. She believed that euthanasia (which she called suicide) cheats people out of the opportunity to complete their unfinished business. The unfinished business she referred to is the contemplation of the ultimate meaning of one's life. She felt the end of life period is a time for resolving old disputes, mending relationships, and coming to a final recognition and appreciation of all the good things that have been a part of one's life. Personally, I believe we need to do this daily! Dr. Kubler-Ross believed that, despite their compassionate motives, those healthy bystanders who encourage or even assist in euthanasia are stealing the last precious moments of these patients' lives. I understand her theory, but I believe that every persons unfinished business must eventually come to an end. If one is unable to live without life support, and feels his business is complete, it would be cruel to force them or their family to suffer needlessly.

USA Today has reported that, among older people with terminal illnesses who attempt suicide, the number suffering from depression reaches almost 90%. Even Jack Kevorkian, the notorious suicide doctor, said at a court appearance that he considers anyone with a disease who is not depressed abnormal. Kevorkian and others who argue in favor of physician-assisted suicide believe that even though depression is treatable; the disabling disease is not. Treating depression in critically ill patients will help to alleviate some of the emotional despair, but it does little to relieve physical symptoms. The patient will still lie on death row until the grim reaper comes.

My grandfather was diagnosed with emphysema fifteen years before his struggle to breathe confined him to his climate-controlled bedroom. Much of the last year of his life was spent in a hospital. The non-stop care for his declining health was beginning to take its toll on my family who never left his side. My grandfather knew that he would not be able to recover from his illness and lead a normal life. Therefore, he signed a document in which he requested that he not be resuscitated or placed on life support in the event of cardiac or respiratory arrest. I remember talking with him in his final days. I asked him if he was ready to die. I believe I am, he affirmed. He passed peacefully in the hospital without the assistance of life support.

Every person has a right to choose and no one should be denied the God-given power of free will. I believe a person, who is kept alive by machines against his/her will, becomes a victim of someone elses choice.

We have more compassion for our pets than we do for our dying family members. We will euthanize our sick and dying dog, but we will allow our loved one to suffer to the end. Im not trying to pin guilt on anyone about any end of life decision they may have made for someone, I am simply making an observation in hopes of helping others avoid the end of life trauma that my uncle endured.

Yvonne Perry is a metaphysical freelance writer, author and keynote speaker with a gift for assisting people who are afraid of dying or are grieving the death of a loved one. Her open style of writing is lovingly controversial and challenges peoples belief systems in order to help them grow spiritually. Get a complimentary copy of Yvonnes E-book More Than Meets the Eye: True Stories about Death, Dying, and Afterlife when you subscribe to the newsletter. Read more about death, dying, afterlife, spirit communication, euthanasia and suicide at http://www.yvonneperry.net/books.htm

Coping With Divorce Anger
Successfully releasing your anger will help you begin healing after your divorce. Right now you may feel a great deal of rage at your ex-husband. You ...

Free Internet Dating Sites - What To Take Note When Using Free Online Dating Sites
Today, several millions of users use free Internet dating sites to find partners. They are allowed to post the profiles and photos, and they will be c...

Your Home, Your Credit, and Your Divorce
Divorce is one of the most horrible things a person can endure. There are a plethora of books and support groups out there that deal in the emotional...

Life on the Other Side
If only we knew what was on the Other Side of this life! Knowing for sure what lies ahead might make a difference in how we view dying and aging and h...

Free Divorce Information
You brown-bag your lunch and take the bus to work so you can make ends meet while the divorce settlement is pending. One day, you receive an unexpecte...

Minnesota Child Custody Laws
Minnesota laws are based solely upon what is in the best interest of the child. As is common in many states, Minnesota child custody laws do not consi...

Divorced Dads Tips - Understanding "Winning" Child Custody
DISCLAIMER: The following is NOT legal advice, nor is it a substitute for legal advice. If you are in Family Court you will need legal advice, so plea...

Resolve to Stop Smoking
If you are going to resolve to stop smoking you should conduct as much research as you can on the subject as possible. There is an incredible amount o...

How Do You Mourn An Ex-Spouse?
My first wife died several weeks ago. We were married almost thirty years, we have four kids and four grandsons, and we were divorced four years ago. ...

Divorce Doesn’t Scar Children - Selfish Parents Do!
Divorce is a highly emotional topic. When children are involved the consequences are far more dramatic - and, not surprisingly, so are our opinions. I...

Consolidate Student Loans Debt - Quick And Effective Ways For Achieving Financial Freedom
There are many different companies today that will help you consolidate your student loans debt and get you on the road to financial freedom. Quite si...

What A Divorce Lawyer Is Going To Do For You
Getting a divorce is not something anyone looks forward to and it is certainly not something that we plan for when we get married. Unfortunately divor...

Bereavement Needs Treatment
Bereavement is something that we come across on different occasions in our whole lifetime. The cause for this could be anything: death of a person, lo...

NC Child Custody Laws
The heart of NC law is to provide and protect a child by doing what's in the best interests of the child. When required NC will rule child custody to ...

Student Loans - Great Rates After Leaving College
There are a lot of student loans available in the market today. If you want a student loan for any course, from becoming a lawyer to training for nurs...