This article was written by a friend of mine, Dr Duncan Stewart
Three elderly clerics are discussing the point at which Life
begins. The Anglican, slightly
pompously, begins with “As soon as a newborn baby cries, Life has
started.” “Oh, No” responds the Catholic
priest, who presumably has no firsthand experience of conception, “Life begins
much earlier. It starts when the sperm fuses with the egg” They both look at
the Rabbi who strokes his beard and slowly announces “In my opinion Life begins
when the children leave home and the dog dies.” A very important debate about
the end of life, with some equally whimsical moments, is swirling around the
corridors and leather benches of our Parliament . The supporters of Assisted Dying
are making progress in spite of sustained opposition to a change in our laws
from senior religious figures whose predecessors obstructed the passing of more
progressive social legislation than any group except the aristocracy.
It is generally agreed that life has ended and the undertaker can
confidently be called when the heart beats for the last time .There is less agreement about those “not quite dead” states in which death
is both inevitable and imminent , as
when other organs like the liver and kidneys fail or that “Old man’s
friend ” pneumonia intervenes. Fortunately, in these forms of terminal illness,
pain is not a prominent symptom so fewer ethical problems arise. We all fear
uncontrolled pain but sufficient doses of
opiate drugs can control any pain and if the dose required causes a coma
that is only ended by death , so be it. But what if you have a condition which
is not only painful and terminal but has deprived you of speech, movement and
continence? What then? If you could somehow summon effective help in such a
situation, you would not request the presence a homeopath nor a priest, you
require the help of doctor with a syringe driver full of Morphine .
I can understand the
importance to a believer in an
afterlife of being reassured of this by
the his priest but we live in an increasingly secular society so why does religious thinking still dominate this
territory? The opportunity to rob your neighbour, murder his noisy children or
seduce his wife, has now passed. In any
case why do God’s earthly representatives object to doctors relieving pain and
anguish when all the other
parties involved ; the patient, physician and relatives , have all agreed after much
careful debate that to end life
remains the only humane act? I refuse to
accept that anyone’s god is going to be seriously offended if a few souls
smelling strongly of barbiturates reach him a few days ahead of schedule.
For myself, I imagine my final day lying in a comfortable bed
surrounded by friends and family sorry to see me go but thinking, perfectly
reasonably, about my last will and testament.
As life slips gently away I
will be reviewing my few successes , my many more numerous acts of
timidity and unkindness and finally trying to compose a witty last utterance. Maybe.
Forget the rising cost of living and ponder on the cost of prolonged
dying. I intend to
vote for whoever wants to repopulate the House of Lords and legalize
Assisted Dying and to give more
generously to our 2 superb local hospices, The Martlets and The Beacon to whose
running costs our parsimonious government contributes only a miserly 30%. I will also check that my having made a
Living Will, which lawyers refer to as an Advance Decision, is known to my family,
solicitor and GP. This simply states one’s wish not to be resuscitated where
this is clearly inappropriate and while it cannot override existing legislation
it may help all who participate in that decision. You can download the
paperwork very simply. I will also dust off my organ donor’s card in case any
of my organs have a bit more mileage left in them.
Our 3 clerics would all have
accepted the Paediatricians’ assertion that the first 12 hours of life,
whenever it starts, are the most dangerous; but they are not as hazardous and
uncertain as the last 12. RIP
شركة تنظيف كنب شمال الرياض شركة تنظيف كنب شمال الرياض
ReplyDeleteشركة تنظيف فلل شرق الرياض شركة تنظيف فلل شرق الرياض
شركة جلي بلاط شرق الرياض شركة جلي بلاط شرق الرياض
شركة جلي بلاط سعر المتر شركة جلي بلاط سعر المتر
شركة تلحيم خزانات فيبر جلاس بالرياض شركة تلحيم خزانات فيبر جلاس بالرياض
شركة جلي بلاط غرب الرياض شركة جلي بلاط غرب الرياض
شركة تنظيف شبابيك بالرياض شركة تنظيف شبابيك بالرياض
شركة نقل اثاث خارج المملكة افضل مغاسل حمامات فى الرياض
ReplyDeleteافضل مغاسل حمامات فى الرياض جلي وتلميع الرخام بالرياض
جلي وتلميع الرخام بالرياض افضل مغاسل ملابس فى الرياض
افضل مغاسل ملابس فى الرياض افضل محل لتفصيل المطابخ بالرياض
افضل محل لتفصيل المطابخ بالرياض شفط مياه الصرف الصحى
شفط مياه الصرف الصحى افضل محلات السيراميك بمكة
افضل محلات السيراميك بمكة شركة تركيب مطابخ بالرياض
شركة تركيب مطابخ بالرياض شركة نقل اثاث بابها
شركة نقل اثاث بابها شركة نقل اثاث بجازان
شركة نقل اثاث بجازان شركة نقل اثاث بخميس مشيط
great
ReplyDeletesharing something aboutThe Solicitors UK
ReplyDeletewhat are your thoughts about Mobile Mall
ReplyDeleteThank you for another great article. Where else could anyone get that kind of information in such a perfect way of writing? I have a presentation next week, and I am on the look for such information. https://www.iphysio.sg
ReplyDeletePhysiotherapists presently broadly utilize the tape over the world for some reasons, the primary being:
ReplyDeletephysiotherapy clinic singapore
i really like this.Mobile Prices in Bangladesh
ReplyDeleteThese sites wonderful,Write For Us Application Development
ReplyDeleteExcellent information, this knowledge is excellent and very important for everyone. I am heartily thankful to you for providing this kind of information. Thanks once again for sharing it. Frozen Shoulder Treatment in KL
ReplyDeleteThe information you've provided here is fantastic because it provides a wealth of information that is really useful to me. Thank you for sharing that. Back Pain Doctor Nj
ReplyDeleteNice sharing information. Jazz 4G Packages
ReplyDelete3 digit number plates so post all like
ReplyDeleteThank you for another great article. Pacman Doodle
ReplyDeleteJOIN US Singapore Citizenship
ReplyDeleteColourist Logo Thank you for another great article.
ReplyDeleteVery good stuff Pacman Doodle
ReplyDelete