Oh God, I am so disgusted with constant nagging of pappaji. ‘I have difficulty in chewing chapatti, rice causes gas, udad dal is heavy to digest, vegetable stew is very pungent…’ he keeps saying. Then what should I cook? He will keep his spects somewhere and make everyone search. Bath water has to be really hot. Whole day sit and eat, rest and sleep. No other worry. He is now eighty one. These days healthy young man suddenly drop dead, but who knows when pappaji will get his turn. If he goes it will be great relief to us. Things are so expensive today? It is my good luck that mummy did not live long. Otherwise her burden also would have fallen on me. Shalini was grumbling and groaning about her in-laws. Like a paying guest, her father-in-law used to regularly give away his pension to Shalini every month. He was well aware that he is unwanted and is a burden. But he felt helpless.
35 years old Alka had high fever and fits. She was hospitalized. After medical treatment her fits stopped, but she did not regain consciousness. No efforts were spared in treating her. However, after 3 months of treatment she started moving her limbs and opened her eyes. She had staring, vacant look, could swallow a bit and her limbs had become stiff and hard like wood. As nothing more could be done, doctors told the relatives to take her home. Alka’s family included her husband, two school going sons and 62 years old mother-in-law, Kokila, who will take care of this vegetable? ‘You don’t get good servants these days. It would have been better if she died’. You should stop all treatment and stop feeding her through tube… relatives used to whisper. Kokila took over complete nursing care with the help of a maid servant. Nine years passed by. Alka’s condition was neither improving nor worsening. There were indirect hints to stop feeding and giving a lethal dose of morphine or some such drug by the ‘well wishers’.
As long as an individual is healthy, productive, active and useful, he/she has a right to live, but due to ageing, acute or prolonged illness, accident, disability if the person becomes unproductive, dependent, worthless for the family or society, is it fair to adopt a policy of ‘use’ and ‘throw’ like ball pens or empty cartons of milk and juice? Cold murder in the name of mercy killing under exceptional situation if legally permitted will have the same fate as that of abortion law.
As long as an individual is healthy, productive, active and useful, he/she has a right to live, but due to ageing, acute or prolonged illness, accident, disability if the person becomes unproductive, dependent, worthless for the family or society, is it fair to adopt a policy of ‘use’ and ‘throw’ like ball pens or empty cartons of milk and juice? Cold murder in the name of mercy killing under exceptional situation if legally permitted will have the same fate as that of abortion law.
- Pragna Pai
About Author
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| Name: | Dr Pragna Pai |
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135, Prabhu Nivas,
Rd. 9A, Wadala, Mumbai, 4000031
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| Phone Number: | 24149072 |
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