Should Mercy Killing be Allowed??

[Paan Singh]

I was reading this article ,here indian court denied the mercy killing for the patient who was in coma since 37 yrs.
wats ur opinion guys??

No mercy killing for Aruna, says SC


New Delhi: In a keenly-awaited verdict, the Supreme Court Monday dismissed a plea for mercy killing on behalf of a 60-year-old nurse, living in a vegetative state for the last 37 years in a Mumbai hospital after a brutal sexual assault, while holding that "passive euthanasia" can be permissible in exceptional circumstances.

Active euthanasia (mercy killing) is illegal, yet "passive euthanasia" can be permissible in exceptional circumstances, a bench of justices Markandey Katju and Gyan Sudha Mishra said dismissing the plea filed on behalf of KEM hospital nurse Aruna Ramachandra Shanbaug.

The apex court said that as per the facts and circumstances of the case, medical evidence and other material suggest that Aruna need not be subjected to euthanasia.

The bench, however, said since there is no law presently in the country on euthanasia, mercy killing of terminally-ill patient "under passive euthanasia doctrine can be resorted to in exceptional cases."

The bench clarified that until Parliament enacts a law, its judgement on active and passive euthanasia will be in force. However, the guidelines with regard to passive euthanasia were not immediately available.

Aruna, who is now nearly 60 years old, slipped into coma after a brutal attack on her at Mumbai's King Edward Memorial Hospital by a staffer on November 27, 1973.

Active euthanasia is generally referred to a state where a patient is given a lethal injection or through any other method allowed to die in presence of doctors, while passive euthanasia involves withdrawing the life support system from a patient.

The plea for Aruna's mercy killing had been made by writer Pinky Virani who had told the court in her petition that the nurse slipped into coma after she was attacked by a sweeper who wrapped a dog chain around her neck and yanked the victim with it.
According to the petition, he had tried to rape the victim but finding that she was menstruating, indulged in anal sex. To immobilise her during this act, he twisted the chain around her neck and fled the scene after the committing the heinous offence, it had said.

Virani had said that due to strangulation by the chain, the supply of oxygen to the brain stopped and the cortex got damaged. She also had brain stem contusion injury associated with cervical cord injury.


According to the petitioner, in the last 37 years after the incident, Aruna has become "featherweight" and her bones are brittle. She is prone to bed sores.


SC to pronounce verdict in euthanasia killing row

 

[PoKeMon]

The whole issue could be seen from two fronts: religious and humanity.
In hinduism, if you can't give life you cant take it. So simply NO.
Dont know what islam and christianity says.
On humanity front, may be allowed depending on state of petitioner.

 

[Agnostic_Indian]

i am for it..especially if the patient is going through pain and years of treatment and care could not improve his condition.but there should be fool proof procedure and certification from multiple authorities.

 

[Paan Singh]

i also think but with the agreement of family members and court etc especially when chances are getting low n low day by day

 

[twoplustwoisfour]

As much as I despice myself for saying this, no, mercy killing or euthanasia should not be allowed.

 

[EastWest]

i am for it..especially if the patient is going through pain and years of treatment and care could not improve his condition.but there should be fool proof procedure and certification from multiple authorities.

Well thats a problem..isnt it??

Getting the certification in india itself is a huge process..and u as well i know what our govt. officials are capable of..lot of red tape and dont be surprised if they ask for bribe from the grieving family...

@on topic..
Supreme Court rejected the demand for Euthanasia.One of the points raised by SC was this will be misused by ppl who want to seize properties of the patients..I for one want Euthanasia to be made into law in this country..but the question rises..in this country where corruption is a part of life..how can we guarantee this law is not misused.

 

[blackops]

Yes it should be jusr imagine yourself in there shoes if there is no treatment in years to come then yes why you want to keep a person in such a state if the family members are redy for it then it should be also many doctors have bben saying that if they allow merrcy killing no new discovery will take place in medicial science

 

[twoplustwoisfour]

My simple argument against euthenasia is this: How is it different from suicide? Obviously both set of people are going through severe sets of problems, be it physical or mental. If suicide is illegal, then so should euthenaisa.

 

[PoKeMon]

My simple argument against euthenasia is this: How is it different from suicide? Obviously both set of people are going through severe sets of problems, be it physical or mental. If suicide is illegal, then so should euthenaisa.

There is a basic diff between mercy killing and suicide.
Suicide is committed by a healthy person capable of fighting the circumstances leading him to commit suicide. Generally the circumstances are either economical or personal relations driven. Both reasons can be overcome with effort and will. Time is the best healer to heal emotional problems and hard work can lead to better economy. Hence both can be resolved.
But mercy killing is for only those who are incapable from body and is bound to live in pain for their remaining life.

 

[twoplustwoisfour]

There is a basic diff between mercy killing and suicide.
Suicide is committed by a healthy person capable of fighting the circumstances leading him to commit suicide. Generally the circumstances are either economical or personal relations driven. Both reasons can be overcome with effort and will. Time is the best healer to heal emotional problems and hard work can lead to better economy. Hence both can be resolved.
But mercy killing is for only those who are incapable from body and is bound to live in pain for their remaining life.

Technically the only difference between suicide and mercy killing is prior concent or approval of authorities. An extremely sick person can also commit suicide, you cannot call that euthenasia

 

[Paan Singh]

guys read this for further info

ASSISTED SUICIDE---Four Differences between Mercy-Killing and Merciful Death

 

[PoKeMon]

Technically the only difference between suicide and mercy killing is prior concent or approval of authorities. An extremely sick person can also commit suicide, you cannot call that euthenasia

A suicide by an extremely sick person who couldn't get well, even doctors have no hope and is going through a horrible pain, is known as euthenasia.

 

[angeldust]

Some of you are missing an important point here. In many cases of euthanasia, the person is not in the position to make the choice and it is then to be made for him/her. That is a really prickly ethico-legal issue with huge ramifications and pitfalls. And speaking of technicalities, in a way even removing life support for a patient in coma or an otherwise vegetative state can be called euthanasia. So its a really complicated issue with many layers and shades to deal with.

 

[blackops]

It is there in some countries if the patient wants to family members are okey with it doctors have no cure what so ever then why you want a person to die slowly and with more pain hell religion if it stops this

 

[PoKeMon]

Some of you are missing an important point here. In many cases of euthanasia, the person is not in the position to make the choice and it is then to be made for him/her. That is a really prickly ethico-legal issue with huge ramifications and pitfalls.

You are correct.
How can somebody else decide the fate of ones life?