Comments - Latest Popular Stories, Instablogs Community by Debate

Desh

Desh — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0000

It’s a shock for me to notice that someone responded to this nonsensical question in positive.

I read somewhere: Dementia, a progressive brain dysfunction, leads to a gradually increasing restriction of daily activities. The most well-known type of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease. Dementia not only affects patients, but also those surrounding them, as most patients require care in the long-term.

It would be an injustice if we are sensitive enough to care such arguments that they are wasting ”people’s lives, family’s lives, and the resources of the National Health Service.” Even if it is so, they should not be treated as a burden when they’ve been bearing the burden of upcoming generation since long.

Shane

Shane — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0000

I have always believed that euthanasia is a viable and humane option for many those who has no hope, living in pain waiting for death. People with dementia are like vegetables who don’t even know whether they exist or not.

Gagandeep

Gagandeep — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0000

It is a difficult one for me.

I’m all for euthanasia and in some cases even suicides.

Dementia is, however, a difficult proposition. I mean the person concerned is supposed to be conscious to make his own decision in this case and yet he’s not.

Yes, the elderly who feel they should die, should be allowed to do so, and be assisted to do so.

But to bundle off someone, not conscious enough to make an informed choice seems a bit arrogant and inhumane to me.

Oscar

Oscar — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0000

I believe if an elderly feels they no longer wish to live, they should have a right to let go..the same as any other human should be allowed to relieve themselves of misery. However, in the case of dementia, it is much more difficult. This person is still alive and functioning, just not on a certain level of recognition. I think there would have to be a ruling on an exact definition of dementia first... It would be way to easy for some just to bump off their old parents who they didn’t want to care for by claiming dementia.

Leena

Leena — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Definitely not! It’s such a cruel thing to do. How can the medical ethics expert be so crass? What it he gets dementia or any such deadly disease tomorrow? It is rather inhuman to think that the diseased elderly waste other people’s lives and resources. They are the same people who had taken care of those who think that they are garbage now. Even infants are helpless in so many ways and need to be taken care of. So are they wasting people’s lives and do they deserve to die because of that?

Celso Camargo

Celso Camargo — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Cruelty is living like that.

Leena

Leena — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Living with a disadvantage becomes cruel not because of the disadvantage, but because people or circumstances around that person make it a curse for him/her to live like that. I don’t think any person in this world desires euthanasia out of his or her own free will, but because of compelling circumstances. If only people come forward and help such a person without thinking that he / she is wasting their time and resources, he/she will not want to die. Even the most painful of diseases can be lived through if other people give that person the necessary emotional and physical support and encouragement