I have been reading with great interest about the Shiavo case. Maybe because where I am from, things like these do not become a major government or congress problem but a decision made behind close doors. No, Euthanasia is not legal in Singapore.
The Shiavo case isn't the first situation to make me give this some thought. Having worked with very severe disabled children who like Shiavo need to be fed through a tube and is in a somewhat vegetative state. Many times I asked myself why these children were even alive. Without medical science they would not have survived. The fact that whatever I did had little or no effect added to that despair of a situation. But the religious Christian side of me also believes a life is a gift and should be respected. Human suffering is unavoidable. I have always asked the question why if we had a God that loved us so much would he continue to allow us to suffer here on earth. The answer I have always gotten was that we were given free will and with it comes concequences of the wrong choices we make. God like a parent has to allow us to make mistakes and suffer the concequences so that we learn. Fair enough. Did those children born in such a state make the choice to end up this way? Do many of the adults who are in a vegetative state choose to end up this way? Fair enough, Shiavo had an eating order and hence caused herself to end up the way she is because she chose to go down that path but I also know how easy it is to lose ones self control once you go down that road. My next question is, how do we define human suffering. With the children I really don't know if they really are suffering. They smile when contented and cry when aggravated and that is basically their life. Are the adults suffering? Or is it the people around them suffering? It is always difficult to watch a love one become helpless. It is a big burden to carry.
Most of the very severe children I work with don't live very long. Some of them have died during my care. Almost all the parents of these children say they are glad they had that child and while sad for their loss they are happy that this child has no need to suffer any longer. Many also speak of the lessons they have been taught by the short lifes of their child. The argument that medical science is the only reason these people are alive is true and valid. But the way I look at it is that everything we have comes from God. God made us so that with our intelligence we may learn and grow. With this intelligence came medical science. Hence the ability to prolong life comes from God.
I am also a strong believer that we are living for a reason. Sometimes the reasons are so inviscible we think our lifes has no purpose or meaning. Because we can't see the bigger picture it is hard to grasp the meaning and purpose of our lifes.
Do I sympathise with Shiavo and her husband? Yes. I cannot say I understand her husband's pain nor can I say I understand what Shiavo is going through now. I also see the view point of her Catholic parents being a part of the faith. Am I for Euthanasia? I would have to say no.
I respect your stance, so respect mine.
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cyph0r's journal
