Since my rotation before surg path was GP posting at Disability SA, this kinda fits in. One one hand, I saw babies with chromosomal anomalies and various deformities having their life end before it even begins. And on the other hand, ones that survived past birth and beyond. Both scenarios are so sad. If you knew your child was going to be deformed, disabled and unable to care for himself, would you prefer to have him terminated or would you want him to live? It's so cruel to kill someone before they can open their eyes. And living? What would that bring? What kind of life would that be? A long, painful and wretched life in an institution, confined to a wheelchair maybe? Or so mentally and physically incapable of doing anything besides eating and shitting and lying around until he eventually dies choking on his own secretions? And when you, the one person who will love and dote on him unconditionally eventually pass away, he'll be left all alone to face the the remainder of his miserable and empty life, spread out hopelessly before him. Either way, it's never easy. So be thankful you were born healthy and have people who love you.
My mom said that the reason some doctors go crazy is because they feel too much for their patients. A day will come in every doctor's career where they will make a mistake that costs the patient their life. Or they will meet a patient whose plight cuts them so deeply yet no help can be given. Truly, doctors are not above death and suffering. The world will continue to drown in its own karma. Letting go is never easy but perhaps essential to our sanity.
My mom said that the reason some doctors go crazy is because they feel too much for their patients. A day will come in every doctor's career where they will make a mistake that costs the patient their life. Or they will meet a patient whose plight cuts them so deeply yet no help can be given. Truly, doctors are not above death and suffering. The world will continue to drown in its own karma. Letting go is never easy but perhaps essential to our sanity.
5 comments:
Pro-life or pro-choice? Your pick.
if we had let nature take its toll, the disabilitated, inedpt individuals will not be able to survive in the world from natural selection.
The problem with disabled and their survival is a price we pay for scientific advances and human morals.
People argue all life is sacret and equal, so all need equal opportunity.
But what good is a life that's only brings suffering to oneself, and people around them? Many people may call me cold hearted; but looking from unitarianist perspective, overall standard of living will be better of if everyone is able to look after themselves, and contribute to the society. Completely disabled not only takes a lot from the community, but also interferes with their carers life standards...Luckly most disabled people are able to do some level of work, like the Down's people working as labourer in factories.
However there are very disabled beings who are unable to do anything but suffer. Then again, what defines 'person'? Someone who has thoughts and feelings? What if this being has got a human physical form, but none of the core essentials that makes one a 'person'? Are brain dead people still alive?
Life's overrated.
What makes death in the womb worse than living in this wretched world?
Sometimes, I almost feel that it's wrong to bring forth more humans into a life sentence of strife and suffering.
No one asks for the fetus' permission whether or not they wanna be born into the world. So why so concerned to ask if they mind being terminated while remaining so cozy in the womb?
"Listen to the cry of a woman in labour at the hour of giving birth --look at the dying man's struggle at his last extremity, and then tell me whether something that begins and ends thus could be intended for enjoyment."
-- Soren Kierkegaard
Wow. Thanks guys for your comments!
*sigh* Whether or not i'm pro-life or pro-choice depends of the situation i guess.
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