WEDNESDAY, MAY 01, 2024
Peter Fernandes
“It’s my life”, goes a popular song by Bon Jovi. It created a sensation. But does it truly hold ground at an existential and eschatological level? A fundamental truth, “My life is not mine,” ought to be understood at the existential as well as the eschatological level for a purposeful life and not be misguided. Just assume that if it were true that my life belongs to me, then I should be in a position to make certain determinations, “when and how I should be born; when and how I should die or not die; and what should happen to my life after death.”
It is an existential reality that none of the above is true of any being on earth, and hence, it is clear that “my life is not mine.” Therefore, all should know this truth with humility and accept with gratitude that life is a beautiful and pure gift from the creator. And all should respect life for that very reason, from conception to natural death. The order of our existence is set by God and not by any other being, and this order ought to be respected with the highest reverence for precisely this reason. However, ever since society has embraced moral relativism, it has caused an imbalance in society, which is a cause for grave concern. Ironical, but true, Goa is gearing up for passive euthanasia. The Indian Medical Association (IMA), Goa, said that it will ensure that, based on the Supreme Court’s directives, the state government’s protocol for patients wanting to opt for passive euthanasia is ready within a few months. Are we proclaiming the advancement of science and medicine? Pope John Paul II stated: “Euthanasia is a grave violation of the law of God, since it is the deliberate and morally unacceptable killing of a human person. “
Analogically, doctors take on the role of God to serve and heal sick and wounded humanity. While taking the oath, students of medicine declare, “I will practice medicine with integrity, humility, honesty, and compassion—working with my fellow doctors and other colleagues to meet the needs of my patients”; and people trust that doctors will live up to their call and profession to the best of their ability. It is true that the government often makes it difficult for doctors to practice their profession in a manner in keeping with their calling, with unjust and
immoral legislation. However, the student of medicine also declares, “I will oppose policies in breach of human rights and will not participate in them. I will strive to change laws that are contrary to my profession and ethics, and will work towards a fairer distribution of health resources.” Knowingly and wilfully terminating life through medical intervention is against the medical profession and human dignity. Therefore, how can doctors participate in euthanasia, partial or otherwise? Should the doctors voice their concern and protest against the draconian legislation? Why are they silent? Mother Teresa of Kolkata had voiced her concern in this regard: “For me, life is the most beautiful gift of God to mankind; therefore, people and nations who destroy life by abortion and euthanasia are the poorest. I do not say legal or illegal, but I think that no human hand should be raised to kill life, since life is God’s life in us, even in an unborn child.”
We have arrived at a very deplorable state, as modern society puts a value on life as just any other commodity, and it remains valuable it seems, as long as it has utility. The elderly, the helpless people in their old age, and the sick are not a cool thing for contemporary society. Such people are perceived with disdain and horror, and considered as a threat to their fun and entertainment. This society, without any remorse, is willing to discard life the moment it loses its utility. Such a mindset emanates from a godless mentality but it is an abomination to a god-fearing society.
How is it that India, which claims to be a god-fearing society, is comfortable with euthanasia? Is it possible that the majority of the citizens of this nation claim to be religious only for political advantage? It is not rocket science - when religion and politics become synonymous, “god” is no longer God with truth and morality, but only an entity for political advancement, and this is very evident in our country today. This explains the approval and passing of the law in favour of partial euthanasia. Remember, everyone works hard to have a comfortable and dignified life, especially in their old age, but contemporary society has left them to fend for themselves. The new trend in society with the breakdown of families and the migration of the younger generation for better prospects has grave repercussions. And society feels euthanasia would be a better option.
If voluntary euthanasia is made legal, who is to prevent families with the connivance of doctors from pressurising elderly ‘useless’ relations to opt for euthanasia? Pope John Paul II, reflecting on this aspect, had this to say: “The choice of euthanasia becomes more serious when it takes the form of a murder committed by others on a person who has in no way requested it and who has never consented to it. The height of arbitrariness and injustice is reached when certain people, such as physicians or legislators, arrogate to themselves the power to decide who ought to live and who ought to die.”
Perhaps, all understand the cycle of life, but all don’t live the different phases of that cycle of life at the same time, which makes our existences interesting and tragic. The instinct to survive is very strong and lives on even when one is breathing his last. The reasons for desperation to destroy one’s life is often external elements and relationships.
And contemporary society keeps adding more reasons for people to plunge into depression, and comes up with easy but immoral solutions such as abortions, euthanasia etc. Some of the common reasons people ask for euthanasia, (also called assisted suicide) include pain and anticipated pain, fear of indignity, loss of control and cognitive impairment. Those who did not want to be a burden also had other reasons for wanting euthanasia. The technological driven society and economics is responsible for creating a depressive world particularly for the sick and elderly, which fuels the reasons cited by those wishing for assisted suicide. Pope John Paul II expressed his concern and anguish over these phenomena “Euthanasia and assisted suicide are never acceptable acts of mercy. They always gravely exploit the suffering and desperate, extinguishing life in the name of the quality of life itself.” Is the Goa government by implementing the directives from the Supreme Court regarding partial euthanasia doing the right thing? There is a beautiful saying, “Life is a gift of God and what we make of our life is our gift back to God.” By terminating life through assisted suicide, we say to the Creator “Life was burdensome, I don’t need it.” What a gift we are presenting! Remember, existence is perfection and it is a beautiful gift of God – my life is not mine!
(The author is a Priest based at Pilar, Goa)
