by Sumithra Sharatkumar

Created on: June 09, 2007

I do not believe that anyone else has the power to decide over a person's life, except God and the person himself.

When we are born into this world, we come in with our own destiny package. How we turn out in life will partly be influenced by our care-takers and our environment; the influence of family, friends and peers; and lastly, on the direction that we choose to grow in life. Of course, all this is always supervised by a divine power. But on this earth, we are the ones making all the choices in our lives, sometimes knowingly, sometimes unknowingly.

So, why should it be any different when it comes to death? If a person is unable to cope with the suffering anymore and is ready to get off the life-support machines, that must be honored as the patient's last wish. It is good to remember, at this stage that none of us really wants to die. We are all frightened by the thought of death and unsure on what to expect next. Despite that, if a person wishes to die, it is only because the alternative of living in pain is intolerable.

Life-support systems do have their place in helping a wounded body cope with trauma and recover. They are absolutely essential when dealing with accident victims or surgery and emergency cases. However, they are not meant to replace the actual living process in our bodies. Just getting the heart to pump, the lungs to breathe and the kidneys to flush out the wastes, is not what Life is meant to be.

At such times, families are often caught up in confusing emotions. On one hand, watching the suffering of their loved ones is unbearable. However, on the other hand, it is a guilt-ridden option, to take the responsibility to 'pull the plug' and end a life. It is therefore better for all concerned to go along with what the patient decides. If the patient is willing to hang on and fight, let the life-support stay on. But if she is wanting to let go and pass on in dignity, respect that. If nothing else, consider it to be the last thing that can be done by the family, for the one they love.

Life is beautiful and is meant to be experienced by us in all aspects - physical, mental, emotional, intellectual and spiritual. And for that we need a wholesome body. When the physical body is ready to give up, technology cannot and should not replace it............for then, we lose the very essence of living.

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