End of Life Care.
The issue of end of life care, or euthanasia, is a touchy one, but here in Canada it doesn't make the headlines very often, nor does it seem like an issue that our politicians take much note of. We haven't had many major cases of questionable euthanasia in Canada, nor have we had it pressed into our public consciousness on a local level. Regardless of that, I believe it is still an issue, and it should be something we take very seriously as skeptics, but more importantly as people.
The simple fact of the matter is that we will all die. Sure some of us might have our heads frozen cryonically, or have our brains downloaded into a computer to be later uploaded into an android body, but there remains the chance that neither of these will be viable methods of life extension within our lifetimes. There will come a time when our bodies fail and our neurons will cease firing. Within moments, the osmotic regulatory system within our cells shuts down, and our body begins to eat itself. There was a time when facing that reality would scare me, give me panic attacks, and cause me many sleepless nights. Even now, thinking about it directly, I feel a twinge of fear, but I know that when the time comes, I will have lived as good a life as I can, and will leave a legacy behind me.
I have the luxury most my age don't. All of my grandparents, both paternal and maternal, all my aunts and uncles, and my parents and brothers are alive. My grandparents have lived long lives, and the closest I have come to being touched by death is my maternal grandfather dying on the table three times during surgery 8 years ago, and a minor heart attack last year. Still, chances are that unless they all miraculously die quietly in their sleep, at least one of them will die from the ordeals put on the body by cancer, emphysema, artherosclerosis, or some other painful, slow disease. No one wants to see their family die, especially in a painful manner, but there seems to be a disconnect between common decency, and death. I should like, should the option come up, that I am able to make a decision to spare them some of that pain. Assuming full disclosure of their quality, duration of life, and chances of survival, that euthanasia would be an option. Dan Savage, a blogger and advice columnist of some note, recently underwent this ordeal with his mother, who died of pulmonary fibrosis. It's a painful story but it shows how the puritanical and ancient beliefs our society still has as cornerstones come into play when it comes to end of life care. The story can be found here: http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Content?oid=691855
So, my question to you all is twofold:
1) Should euthanasia be an option, assuming the only alternative is a much longer and painful death?
and
2) Should that same option be given to a family member, should the patient be unable to communicate?