Mercy Killing
By Artemeis
@artemeis (4194)
China
August 16, 2012 9:36am CST
A friend of mine has been stricken with advanced stage cancer and does not have much time left. However, the doctors have been encouraging him to go through with their recommended treatment which to him is an irony considering the odds. After listening to his doctors' analogy of that of winning the lottery which is more of asking for a miracle with stacked odds.
To him, he is just not convinced and does not see the point of going through with it, mainly because these treatments cost money and plenty of it. This is really a gamble indeed and after listening to him I could not help feeling lost and helpless. Then, came his unexpected request - help him kill himself. As a person, I have so much difficulty killing a irritating rat and dissecting during biology nearly ended my life, you can see how shocked and disturbed I am here.
Also, mercy killing is a crime in China and I just could not see how I could do such a thing. Imagine getting caught and get the country's death sentence here. What if he does not die but has complications arising from a failed attempt? If I don't help him, what if he gets a fumbling idiot who is worse than me? What if he dies but the doctors said that he actually could be cured? I have so many questions these few days that I have not been sleeping well.
2 responses
@chikahdorah (269)
• Philippines
17 Aug 12
Mercy killing or euthanasia is legal in other countries. I think that it all depends on what the person's religion or belief is. I can say that as a Christian, only God has the right to take away the life He has given. But for other people it may be different. As a person, I do think that everyone has to respect each one of us. Whatever our decision is must be respected.
In my point of view, mercy killing is ending one's suffering with her or his consent, or his loved one's consent. It may be ending life itself, but the point is when you end life, you end suffering. Sometimes, we don't have any choice but to give up on something that we held on for many years to make things lighter to bear in the future.
1 person likes this
@violann (436)
• United States
16 Aug 12
First and foremost do not, I repeat do not do a mercy killing. I understand him not wanting to take the treatments because of the expense and the slim chance that they would work. I went through this with my mother almost a year ago, however her doctor was up front in telling her if her cancer started to grow again they wouldn't be able to treat it anymore for several reasons the main one is that it was no longer working and she had lost way to much weight.
Have your friend talk to his doctor about getting pain medication to help ease the pain during this difficult time, morphine worked for my mother. The only thing you can really do right now is be there for your friend and if he continues to pressure you to do a mercy killing, just tell him firmly that you will not do it.
1 person likes this
@artemeis (4194)
• China
16 Aug 12
Frankly, I am very scared and in 2 minds about telling him that I will not support him. I hope you will understand that my country is such that there will always be some people that will do anything even it means committing a crime when there is money involved. So, if he does not find me supportive, then I am sure will be asking someone else to do the job.
