Can we treat someone out of death? Granted we don't know when the moment comes. But when an individual is old, lived a full dignified, happy life, laboring in the last moment of life, should the individual be "treated" with ventilator, dialysis, blood transfusion, CT Scans, heavy dose of medications, etc.? The cardiologists, the neurologists, the nephrologists and other specialists give their expert opinion on the condition of the individual body part heart, brain, kidney etc., Life inside is fighting back to make an exit..Unfortunately this situation is not unique to our honorable leader Mr.
Jyothi Basu who is in his death bed right now.
A Doctor comments the following on the condition of Mr. Jyothi Basu in The Times of India forum.
"He is 96 years old. The life expectancy of someone born in India in 1914 would have been less than half of that, and almost 100 years later, most Indians (and most humans) don't live that long. While the media is reporting all the "heroic" efforts the doctors are making, and all the technology they are throwing at a frail elderly man, nobody seems to care to ask if he would have approved of his body being put through all this invasion and indignity. He has multiorgan failure over age related decline in organ function. An elderly person in this condition is unlikely to recover his previous cognitive and functional status. Isn't it time to allow natural death?"
With the help of modern medicine, we take extraordinary measures to prolong life at all costs. Our hospital Intensive Care Units (ICUs) have made death invisible even to the closest family members. The patient almost always has no say on how they want to pass. As a culture, we are growing ignorant of letting go our near and dear gracefully and with dignity.
Tamil poet கவிப்பேரரசு வைரமுத்து (Vairamuthu) in his collection of poems "இந்த பூக்கள் விற்பனைக்கு அல்ல" writes as follows in the poem "வேண்டுவன"
"...
கடைசிவரை
சுயமாய் நீர் கழிக்கும் சுகம்
உறக்கத்தில் உயிர் பிரியும் வரம்"
(The wants - Being able to urinate without aid; to die in sleep)
Even if one is not lucky to pass while asleep, wouldn't it be wonderful if one remains conscious, meets with all loved ones to say that they love them and they forgive them, labor through the dying process, just as it happens during birth and finally depart?! Wouldn't it bring a sense of closure on a life, not only to those who die, but also to those who live to remember them? Is there is a better way to end a great journey of life? Should a life go in the dark, alone, unconscious and surrounded by strangers? I have seen one too many to go the same route. Now we see the drama being played out in the media for Mr. Jyothi Basu. May him rest in peace when the time comes. India will miss a great leader of the people.
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