Death with Dignity

Death with Dignity

Dr. Peter Goodwin, the famous doctor who fought to introduce the "Death with Dignity Act" in USA, is no more.

He was possibly among the first men who fought for the right to "Assisted Suicide" for terminally ill patients.

On March 11, 2012, he used the law to end his own life.

Here's an obituary that I came across: Obituary - Dr. Peter Goodwin, the advocate of "Death with Dignity Act", is no more

For highly advanced societies with very strong and timely law-enforcement agencies, for intellectually mature individuals, for emotionally strong and stable individuals, perhaps "Assisted Suicide" may be a law worth introducing.

In a country like India, it is prone to misuse. In any case, even in those very same advanced societies, "Assisted Suicide" may not necessarily be a great idea for at least two reasons that I can think of:

• The disease which has impacted the patient may become curable after the actual date of death but before his preordained (by God, not by man) date of death
• There may be a medical miracle and the disease might have very well disappeared "suddenly"

Should we have such a law in any part of the planet?

On the other hand, unbearable suffering or a state of coma or a life as a vegetable can be highly undesirable. Especially for a patient who has been "full of life and energy" till the other day. Especially if the medical condition is known to be irreversible.

Unfortunately, in this life of ours, there are no easy answers to such complex questions. At least, I don't have an easy answer for this question.

Regards,

N

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