On the road of life, we are all faced with many important choices. Among them, when life is gradually coming to an end and facing the edge of life and death, such a choice is particularly heavy. So, if there really is a day when we stand at the crossroads of life, how should we choose? Do we do our best to continue this fragile flame of life, or choose a more peaceful and dignified way to let life end peacefully?
The word "euthanasia" has become more and more popular in discussions on the mainland in recent years. Especially in the face of unbearable illness and suffering from loved ones or themselves, many people may feel that "euthanasia" seems to be a relief, a hope that they will no longer be tortured by pain. But in fact, although the name sounds full of "peace" and "tranquility", the real process may be far from it.
Fu Daren, this name, I think many friends in Taiwan, and even the audience in China will not be unfamiliar. He is the host who is always smiling, gentle and elegant, with a sense of intimacy. On the screen of the TV station, he has accompanied everyone for countless days and nights, and has warmed the hearts of countless viewers with his voice and smile.
Mr. Fu Daren can be said to be an evergreen tree in the TV industry, he has been in this circle for most of his life, witnessed the ups and downs of TV media, and personally experienced the extraordinary transformation from black and white TV to color TV, and then to HD and 4K. He always appears on time at every important moment, whether it is an important press release or the scene of various large-scale events, he can use his professionalism and enthusiasm to accurately convey the information to every audience.
Retirement, for many people, means that life slows down and that they can have more time to enjoy the beauty of life. But for Fu, retirement doesn't mean the end, it's the beginning of another. Even though he is 66 years old, even if he has entered the old age of his life, as long as the TV station needs him, he will not hesitate to stand up and send warm greetings to the audience with his familiar voice.
However, life is always full of uncertainties. In 2016, Fu Daren, who was once energetic and energetic, suddenly began to have a physical condition.
At first, Fu Daren just felt a little feverish, thinking that it was just a small cold and that he could get better by taking some medicine. However, it's not that simple. His body seemed to be ignited by an invisible flame, from head to toes, one part after another began to inflame, like a raging fire inside his body. The flames not only burned him in agony, but also made his life a mess.
As his condition worsened, Fu's stomach was also severely damaged, and the doctors had to decide to perform surgery to cut off half of his stomach. Such an operation is undoubtedly worse for a person who is already suffering from illness. Every time the pain attacked, he would clutch his chest tightly, and say to his wife with a painful expression: "I can't live such a day, or euthanasia." ”
At the beginning, as soon as the idea of euthanasia was proposed, all the family members opposed it. They felt that Fu Daren's body still had the possibility of being saved, and he should not give up easily. However, Fu Daren's pain is increasing day by day, and every time he gets sick, he will cry out that he wants to go to Switzerland for euthanasia. For him, this may be the only way to relieve his pain.
Seeing his father in such pain, the family really had no choice but to do everything they could to divert his attention. They knew that Fu Daren liked to paint, so they specially prepared a studio for him, so that he could use his talent to the fullest. In addition, they also took Fu Daren to visit his youngest son, so that he could feel the warmth of family and the power of family affection. Although these things could not completely cure his illness, they could at least allow him to forget the pain for a short time and regain the joy of life.
In the river of time, Fu Daren's life gradually became heavy and difficult. The originally upright body was gradually eroded by the disease, becoming thin and rickety. What was once an easy move is now extremely difficult. The pain was like an invisible chain, tightly binding his body, keeping him awake at night and unable to eat at night.
The bile duct, a once obscure organ, has now become an unavoidable topic in Fu Daren's life. Every six months, he had to endure great pain under the operation of doctors to implant a new stent into the bile duct. Every implant is like a contest between life and death, which makes him miserable.
To make him even more desperate, the doctor announced that he had pancreatic cancer. This news was like a thunderbolt from the sky, instantly breaking the defense line in his heart. The doctor's words echoed in his ears like a bleak elegy: "Even at the most optimistic estimates, you have only two years left to live." ”
These two years seemed to be an endless torture for Fu Daren. His life became monotonous and tedious, and he spent most of his time in bed. He looked out the window at the sky, his heart full of helplessness and despair. The physical pain made him unable to enjoy life as before, and even the most basic self-care ability was lost.
This kind of life made him even more determined to want euthanasia. However, whenever he mentioned the idea to his family, he was always met with strong opposition.
For them, life is priceless, and as long as there is still a breath, there is hope and a future. They firmly believe that as long as they live, it is possible to overcome the disease and usher in a turnaround.
However, as time went on, Fu's condition deteriorated, his physical condition deteriorated, and the pain was like a tidal wave, making it almost unbearable. The family looked at his pain, and their hearts were also full of suffering and helplessness.
They began to reflect on whether Fu Daren's wishes should be respected and let him choose a more peaceful way to leave this world. After all, he had already endured too much pain and had done his best to fight the disease. In the end, they chose to let go and let Fu Daren make the decision according to his wishes.
In 2018, Daren Fu embarked on a journey to Switzerland. Why choose Switzerland? Because in this country, there is a special service – euthanasia for foreigners. While some other countries in the world also allow euthanasia, only Switzerland is willing to provide such a service to foreigners. It was here that Fu Daren found the relief he had been waiting for.
He spent his last precious moments with his family, and those warm images seemed to become eternal. Then, the doctor handed him a bottle of medicine, which was his passport to eternity. He drank it in one gulp without hesitation, and the pain seemed to disappear in an instant. His consciousness blurred, his body grew heavier, and finally, in the arms of his family, he quietly closed his eyes and left this world full of pain.
The whole process was not long, and Fu Daren did not show much pain. However, is it really as they expected, and can the bottle of medicine really make people leave without pain?
Although euthanasia is not legally recognized in the mainland, if you have a little understanding of the way the death penalty is carried out, you will find that there are some similarities between lethal injection and euthanasia of death row prisoners. However, upon closer inspection, there is a world of difference between the two.
First of all, the composition of drugs for lethal injection is strictly regulated and controlled. In most cases, the combination of drugs used for lethal injection includes barbiturates and muscle relaxants. Barbiturates, which may sound unfamiliar, are very common in hospitals. They are often used as anesthetics to help patients fall into a deep sleep during surgery or during certain treatments.
However, barbiturates alone are not enough. In the process of lethal injection, a muscle relaxant is also added. The main effect of this drug is to prevent the person who has been executed from having muscle twitching or struggling violently during the injection. After all, it is very important to maintain the physical stability and safety of the person being executed during the execution of the death penalty. In this way, the entire execution process can be carried out more smoothly and safely.
Barbiturates can seriously affect the body's respiratory function, making it difficult to breathe, and the body gradually lacks oxygen, eventually leading to the failure of various organs in the body. Although potassium chloride is not used, people who are injected with barbiturates will eventually die from lack of oxygen, but the process can be very long and painful. In order to speed up this process and allow the victim to be freed as soon as possible, a high concentration of potassium chloride will be used.
Potassium chloride is a powerful cardiac arrestant that stops the heart in an instant, causing the entire body to quickly lose its vital response. When high concentrations of potassium chloride are injected into the body, it quickly enters the bloodstream and reaches the heart through blood circulation. As soon as potassium chloride comes into contact with the heart muscle, it immediately causes the heart muscle to stop contracting and the heart to stop. Since the heart is the pump of the body's blood circulation, once it stops working, the blood cannot continue to flow, and the various organs of the body will quickly lose their blood supply, thus dying quickly.
The process is very quick and usually requires only one stitch, and the results are immediate. From the start of the injection to death, the whole process may only take more than 1 minute. This quick way of dying may reduce some of the pain and suffering for the injected person. But that doesn't mean there is no pain.
Euthanasia, a seemingly simple word, actually hides countless complex emotional and ethical dilemmas. In the eyes of many people, it may be a relief, but in foreign countries, it is not easy to truly implement euthanasia. First of all, you have to be an adult, at least 18 years old, which is not only a requirement of the law, but also a sign of responsibility for your own life. Only when you are an adult can you fully understand the possible consequences of your decisions and have complete control over your life.
But it's not enough to be an adult, you have to be terminally ill, and the doctor has clearly told you that you have little left to live, probably 3 to 6 months left. At such times, euthanasia may be considered as an option. But note that this doesn't mean you can choose euthanasia at will. You have to go through a series of rigorous vetting and evaluation to ensure that your decision is genuine, voluntary, and free of any external pressure or interference.
These reviews and assessments are not just a formality. You need to face a professional psychiatrist who will have an in-depth understanding of your psychological state and make sure that your decisions are based on a true perception of life and not on the spur of the moment or despair. These psychologists will carefully review your medical records to understand your condition and will also have in-depth conversations with you to ensure that your decision is the result of deliberation.
Through these rigorous reviews and assessments, euthanasia can truly be legal and fair. In this way, the abuse of the system by those who do not really need euthanasia can be avoided and that those who really need it can get the peace and dignity they want.
So, euthanasia is not a simple matter. It involves many aspects such as life, ethics, and law. Only when we truly understand these aspects can we have a comprehensive and in-depth understanding of euthanasia and make truly wise and responsible decisions. Of course, euthanasia is not as imagined, and the whole process is not painful at all.