BHARATI PAWASKAR
When life is throbbing and one finds it fulfilling we cherish it - and yearn to live long. However, when life becomes a burden for whatsoever reason, we wish and pray to die early. Is birth and death in our hands?
Dr Asha Vishwanath Sawardekar’s recently released book, ‘Peaceful Exit’ is an insightful exploration of life and death with humanitarian approach. While dedicating this first book to Sanjeevan Arogyadham (a brainchild institute that Dr Asha painstakingly founded in Nagueshi-Bandora), this PhD student in sociology accounts the positive reasons why she penned this book.
Intending to change the mindset of Indian society, especially of the doctors, lawyers, politicians, legislators, judiciary and overall thinkers of life and death, Dr Asha intends to spread the message far and wide, loud and clear. With a foreword from the noted Goan writer Datta Damodar Naik, the book will prove to be a handbook for those who deal with this issue of Euthanasia.
In modern times there are examples of people having opted for this route in their ripe age. But all these are different from Atmahatya (the killing of one’s self). So what makes ‘dying by will or choice’ a right decision? The topic is out in India for debate over a period of time, yet controversy continues.
In her book, Dr Asha shares her own experiences with people with terminal illnesses and incurable diseases, bedridden patients, and those suffering from cancer, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, psoriasis, stroke and other conditions. It is painful to see these patients who hardly respond to any medical treatments and are made to suffer lifelong. “All I wondered if there could be any way out to put an end to this agony,” she writes in the preface of her book that highlights how death is the ultimate truth.
‘Peaceful Exit’ is a compilation of many issues and examples brought together for a single-sitting read. Dr Asha discusses the dilemma of the old age and sickness that follows. She talks of the problems of the elderly and senior citizens who suffer terminal illnesses. Then, there are geriatric issues when old and feeble stick to their beds, unable to move by themselves and totally dependent on other person’s mercy to continue a vegetable, parasite living. Each one of us deserves a life of dignity and a dignified death, isn’t it?
Dr Asha point outs that there may be many around us who feel that they should exit from this world peacefully, without any sickness or stress. Instead of living a lonely life in old age, they want to bid farewell when they are fit and fine, hale and hearty. Can terminal illness be a reason for opting Euthanasia? In hospitals, many times one sees a picture where many are bedridden for years, suffering from mental and physical pain. There is no way out to get relief. Dr Asha urges that doctors and lawyers must come forward to convince the lawmakers to bring such a law in India, whereby a person can die with dignity.
Debate on Euthanasia has been ranging for more than half a century around the world and it comes to raise important questions in Medical Ethics, Moral Theory, Civil Rights and Liberty. The book has a mention on Aruna Shanbaug case where Supreme Court of India finally endorsed Passive Euthanasia with its landmark judgment.
