If your family member, who was suffering from illness, voluntarily offered euthanasia, would you support him?
I believe that everyone has their own answer to this question.
Victor Escobar, a chronically ill patient, has brought the topic of euthanasia back to the public eye again, and the Internet is hotly discussed.
"There are many more degenerative disease patients like me. If we ask to die with dignity, it is because our lives ended a long time ago. This is victor's sentiment after successfully applying for euthanasia.
Source: Medical public account
A native of Colombia, Victor unfortunately suffered from 17 chronic diseases, including diabetes, depression, pulmonary hypertension, osteoarthritis and more. He had to take no less than ten kinds of medicines a day, and he could not bear the pain and pain, and applied for euthanasia 3 times.
His work was frequently exposed to asbestos, a carcinogen, which caused him to develop chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Under the torment of 17 chronic diseases, his breathing function was weakened, he could not breathe without the oxygen tank, coughed with blood, and his whole body was in pain, and the disease made him completely lose his ability to take care of himself.
But he's not a cancer patient. The doctor said that the medication could relieve his physical discomfort, so his 2 applications for euthanasia were rejected. It wasn't until July 2021 that Colombia amended the restrictions on euthanasia, and this time he finally successfully applied for euthanasia.
His application was also attacked by the Church, which considered avoiding suffering and choosing death to be a form of "murder."
But he said firmly: "I am not afraid of what is about to happen." Eventually, Victor, 60, accompanied by his family, completed the euthanasia injection. He made a video of his last moments, and facing the camera, he laughed and said that he had won the opportunity for the non-terminally ill to dominate their lives!
Victor's story has resonated with many patients with diseases. Illness drags people into the endless abyss, after resistance, still surrounded by darkness, at this time, how should we choose? Is it to accept the arrangement of fate and continue to suffer, or to dominate yourself and find the initiative?
First, the Swiss suicide capsule "legalization", or will open a key death
According to Swiss reports, a 3D printed suicide capsule is "legalized" in Switzerland and may be put into use in 2022. The emergence of this machine has caused a hot discussion on the Internet, some people believe that the machine provides convenience for people who want to euthanize, and some people criticize the machine as a "killing machine".
According to the designers, the machine can set the time of death and activate the death button itself. Once the machine is activated, the cabin is surrounded by nitrogen, and in just 30 seconds, the user is disoriented, unconscious, and dies without any fear.
However, the "legal review" of this machine is still in progress. All sectors of society have also expressed deep doubts about the legitimacy of the machine. If it were you, would you like this machine to be officially put into use?
Source: China News Weekly
Why is euthanasia not practiced in mainland China?
There are two types of euthanasia, one is positive euthanasia and the other is negative euthanasia. "Assisted suicide" is also a form of euthanasia, which is also permitted by most national laws. At present, assisted suicide is legal in most countries in the world, for example, the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Luxembourg, etc.
Euthanasia has always been a controversial topic in China. Because euthanasia involves many aspects of social ethics, moral law, medical treatment, etc. So far, euthanasia in China's law is still a blank and inconclusive.
Bo Daren, a famous sports anchor in Mainland Taiwan, was tormented by disease due to pancreatic cancer, and finally chose to go to Switzerland for euthanasia. Because Switzerland is the only country where euthanasia can be performed for foreigners.
His choice, spent his life savings (euthanasia costs about 600,000 yuan), in fact, euthanasia, is not as easy and easy as imagined. Euthanasia, perhaps for most people, may be "unaffordable".
In 2021, the Journal of Demography published data from a study on public attitudes towards euthanasia, which showed that about 55.2% supported euthanasia, 44.8% were not supportive (including opposition and neutrality), 7.1% were explicitly opposed, and 37.7% were neutral.
The researchers believe that compared with previous data, the proportion of euthanasia neutral attitudes shows a clear upward trend.
Yan Sanzhong, a legal expert, said in an interview with reporters that patients with diseases have the right to choose to die in a dignified manner in the case of extreme pain, unbearable and inability to continue their lives.
However, in real life, euthanasia is not only a legal issue, but also a social and ethical issue, and it also involves very complex technical issues. To achieve legislation on "euthanasia" on the mainland, it must strive to meet four conditions.
The first is to achieve the popularization and development of medical technology. Some small hospitals and clinics may not be able to accurately judge patients, and euthanasia may cause the phenomenon of "hasty human life".
The second is to improve the medical security system so that serious patients who choose euthanasia have no financial burden.
The third is to improve the professional ethics of doctors. There must never be a family member bribing a doctor to euthanize a patient without his or her consent. The last is to improve the technology of euthanasia and avoid legal and moral hazards.
If "euthanasia" cannot be legislated, the sick patients will only have to suffer to the end?
The incidence of malignant tumors and chronic diseases in the mainland is increasing year by year, and for patients with pain, the treatment process is full of negative emotions such as fear, depression, and loneliness. Perhaps many people have thought that it is better to live without dignity than to walk away.
In the face of the last journey of life, if euthanasia cannot be legislated, can the sick patient only suffer to the end?
The answer is no, in the traditional Chinese conception, people are afraid of death, afraid of death, and there has never been a dying education involving death. Therefore, when death comes, no matter how hard people try, the fear of death will still exist in various forms.
These patients, who are about to face death, can choose palliative medical treatment to alleviate the pain. Palliative care refers to helping people with limited lives from emotional and spiritual, practical needs and other aspects to alleviate suffering and improve their quality of life, which is what we call "hospice care".
Dr. Lou Huiling of guangzhou First People's Hospital said: Palliative care is not no treatment, nor is it a negative response, but a positive and comprehensive treatment."
Specialists identify the life expectancy of patients, judge patients with a life of less than six months, and recommend not to use confrontational treatment methods, but to alleviate the patient's pain and achieve physical and mental peace through the care of "body, heart, society and spirit".
Death is the end of life that everyone will inevitably experience, and everyone hopes that they can die with dignity. Finally, going back to the question we started with, do you support euthanasia?
If one day, you or your family members are suffering from illness, will euthanasia become your choice to control your own destiny? #Rumor Zero Plan # #守护银龄世界 #
Resources:
[1] A chronic disease patient decides "euthanasia" that has been performed. Medical Community.2022-1-10.
[2] Euthanasia, really can't afford to die. China News Weekly.2022-01-04.
[3] [Qingming] Talk about palliative medicine. Guangzhou First People's Hospital.2017-04-04.
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