Euthanasia for the terminally ill is already part of dealing with `end-of-life planning`. None would want to be the main decision maker for someone’s speedy death. That is where the `end-of-life planning` comes in: To help the unprepared families make decisions on and for behalf of the brain dead, vegetative, or terminally ill person; so as to be able to meet the Creator. Usually the primary care physician (at the request of the loved ones) steps in to make the patients as COMFORTABLE as possible.
For example, the husband of my paternal auntie had a hard time breathing and was already unconscious. For two friggin long hours the fat bastard lied on the hopsital bed while other people waiting inside the room, STINKING UP the place with food and bad breath! I did NOT enter that room packed full of onlookers. It’s a disturbing sight of UNDIGNIFIED bunch of Filipinos!
Instead of prolonging his suffering, the other aunties suggested higher dosage of morphin is to be given. He turned purple, black and ashen gray in color. His mouth was slack open and people didn’t seem to cry because of his mistreatment to my auntie. I didn’t bother looking and was rather impatient at being present, surrounded with too many people.
According to the Filipinos, the person cannot die even while unconscious due to waiting to hear someone’s voice or if there is still some unresolved life mission that has yet to be finished but could not have been fulfilled due to an untimely death. I recall my paternal grandfather holding on to this last breath until his last son Gigolo came in a few minutes later after the old man passed on.
Anyway, other issues surrounding people who ARE vegetative are handled discretely and humanely as possible, sometimes for termination, such as abortions, or for long-term care in an institution. For those who are of higher functioning, they still have a life and joy to share.
As per my previous blog entries, the spirit resides inside useless bio-forms. I know because I heard the most beautifully voice from a retarded man. I know because I’ve seen emotions through facial expressions, like smiling or crying, of patients who are permanently contracted in odd positions of their custom-made, padded bed.
I know death is a difficult issue to handle. For those who really don’t love their fleshy units, there is the option to let go. For those who believe in pro-life, you can see and hear for yourselves if being beautiful on the outside outweighs what people cannot appreciate on the inside — the spirit and will to live.
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