Kiama
I was doing some homework last night whilst my little sisters were watching Casualty, and my attention was focussed by one of the mini-storylines in it... There as a man who had had a stroke, and couldn't use some parts of his body because of this. He had been like it for about a year, and was getting really down about it. He said to his wife:
"When we are supposed to have dinner, you give me pills. Instead of sex, you give me a bath. When I want to go see the football, I get Match Of The Day. I've lost my life." This man just wanted to die. He felt as though he had nothing left to live for: He had no Quality Of Life, as it is termed legally, and medically whe discussing this subject.
Anyway, he refused to take his medication when he was in hospital, and thus suffered another stroke. When he had been checked out and everything, his wife came in. The husband pleaded with her to help him die. So, she kissed him goodbye, told him she loved him, and put the pillow over is face.
Now, this made me think. Would I do the same for my life partner, if they really wanted me to, and if they were of sound mind? Would I give them what they wanted?
Many religions teach that you shouldn't kill. The Bible says 'Thou shalt not kill'. The Wiccan rede tells us: 'An it harm none, do what ye will.' The law condemns euthanasia unless the plea is taken to the courts and agreed to first, and then its not active euthanasia, such as actually putting a pillow over the face would be: It is always withdrawing treatment. That's the only euthanasia that is legal, in the UK anway.
But, on top of all this, would you let the person you loved most suffer needlessly? And would you be able to help them die? Would you be able to put that pillow over their face, then live with yourself afterwards? The moral and spiritual aftermath needs to be dealt with, and as far as nearly all religions are concerned, you've just gone against what they say!
So, the big question is, would you, and if so, why, and how would you cope afterwards? Can the decision be justified spiritually, in the face of the 'Harm none' and 'thou shalt not kill' type rules that nearly all of us live by?
Kiama
"When we are supposed to have dinner, you give me pills. Instead of sex, you give me a bath. When I want to go see the football, I get Match Of The Day. I've lost my life." This man just wanted to die. He felt as though he had nothing left to live for: He had no Quality Of Life, as it is termed legally, and medically whe discussing this subject.
Anyway, he refused to take his medication when he was in hospital, and thus suffered another stroke. When he had been checked out and everything, his wife came in. The husband pleaded with her to help him die. So, she kissed him goodbye, told him she loved him, and put the pillow over is face.
Now, this made me think. Would I do the same for my life partner, if they really wanted me to, and if they were of sound mind? Would I give them what they wanted?
Many religions teach that you shouldn't kill. The Bible says 'Thou shalt not kill'. The Wiccan rede tells us: 'An it harm none, do what ye will.' The law condemns euthanasia unless the plea is taken to the courts and agreed to first, and then its not active euthanasia, such as actually putting a pillow over the face would be: It is always withdrawing treatment. That's the only euthanasia that is legal, in the UK anway.
But, on top of all this, would you let the person you loved most suffer needlessly? And would you be able to help them die? Would you be able to put that pillow over their face, then live with yourself afterwards? The moral and spiritual aftermath needs to be dealt with, and as far as nearly all religions are concerned, you've just gone against what they say!
So, the big question is, would you, and if so, why, and how would you cope afterwards? Can the decision be justified spiritually, in the face of the 'Harm none' and 'thou shalt not kill' type rules that nearly all of us live by?
Kiama