As A Hindu is it ethical to terminate life?

[prasad1]

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Three states have enacted Death with Dignity laws: Oregon, Washington, and Vermont. These laws allow mentally competent, terminally-ill adult state residents to voluntarily request and receive a prescription medication to hasten their death. This is one of many end-of-life care options available in Oregon, Washington, and Vermont. - See more at: Death with Dignity Acts | Death with Dignity National Center

A young woman named Brittany Maynard, like so many others, has a compelling story to share. She is bravely facing her death with dignity and control, and when the time is right, she may choose to hasten her own death. If you're not from Oregon, you might wonder how she can do that. In fact, our phones have been steadily ringing due to callers wanting to learn more about Death with Dignity.
In Oregon, Death with Dignity has been legal for 20 years. The Oregon Death with Dignity Act allows mentally competent, terminally ill adults with six months or fewer to live the right to request medication to hasten their deaths. Once a person completes the request process and receives the prescribed medication, it's fully in the patient's hands to decide whether or when to take the medication, and about a third of the people who request the prescribed medication never take it.
Our hearts go out to Brittany and her family. She and her husband were trying for a family when the news came. After suffering from crippling headaches for months, she learned she had brain cancer in January, 2014. Hardly a year after getting married and 29 years old—her whole life ahead of her—her life was turned upside down in a moment.
- See more at: Death with Dignity National Center

 

[Raji Ram]

Dear Prasad Sir,

I have seen a few elders cry and request their dear ones to kill them.

I guess our karmA theory does NOT allow euthanasia! :sad:

But, in Tamil literature we read about 'vadakkiruththal' which the old kings observed.

They sit facing North and fast unto death!

 

[Vaagmi]

Vadakkiruththal or Sallekhana is a practice peculiar to Jainism. Even in this age Jains have this sallekhana practiced frequently by people. An elderly person if he/she decides to end his/her life takes the permission from the family and importantly from the Guruji maharaj and then gives up food and takes only water until death. In Tamil history we find people who have done this vadakkiruththal. The well known example is that of Kopperunchozhan and Pisiranthaiyaar. I think the names are correct.

 

[sangom]

It may be within human capacity today, especially in advanced countries like the US, to "purchase death" at will, just like purchasing a car or a house. In the west, life revolves around the physical body(bodies) alone, while Indian culture gives equal importance to the life after death and views this worldly life as an interval between successive existences in the beyond-life regions. Considering these backgrounds, it does not look correct at all, to allow someone to terminate own life so as to escape (temporarily?) from the unbearable effects of Karma that one has brought upon oneself. We may feel having succeeded, but Karma is sure to follow and all the sufferings will also follow definitely in the future and we may find many people suffering greatly even in their young ages, if this system becomes accepted world-wide.

My view is that it is unethical.

 

[renuka]

I think adhering to the laws of the country or state with regards to termination of life is easier.

If we drag in religion or from the Hindu point of view..or Karma etc..the discussion would be endless.

If the state or country allows it..then let the person decide on their own..what else can be done?

After all many Hindus themselves have used "fasting to death" threats in the past.

I feel may be "fasting to death" is more of a Jain phenomenon since Gandhi was from Gujarat he must have been heavily influenced by Jainism and started tactics of fasting as a protest.

So if someone wants to end their life..they have to remember this:

1)Do it yourself

2)Dont ask any doctor to assists you

3)You should be strong enough to get up and end your own life..even a sick death row inmate is not sent to the gallows..he is allowed to be well and healthy before execution.

 

[CHANDRU1849]

No religion gives license to any individual to determine his/her death.

There is a frequent change in the lifestyle of human beings at regular intervals due to various reasons.

Consequent upon industrial revolution, world wars, scientific development and its impact on medicine, crumbling of joint families into nucleus families which leads to broken families, has its affect on human life, irrespective of country, race, religion etc.

While the economic status of the people might have increased, due to globalization, new inventions, more job creations etc., an individual finds it difficult to get constant moral support either from his/her relatives or from outside, while he/she is in distress or after becoming old. You cannot buy everything with the help of money. This situation is so prominent in the West, which is slowly but definitely growing in India.

Though suffering is quite common among all sections at all times, earlier it was reasonably shared by relatives, due to joint family system, and others. The above situation is gone and the individual is left alone. Now it is upto the individual to decide whether to live with disease and mental agony or to go for mercy killing.

As usual, the West thought of this in advance and it is being looked into very seriously. What West thinks, debates, adopts, implements etc., today will be followed by other countries also, no doubt, if not now, at least in the distant future.

The Religion has to be only a silent spectator.

Earlier, people were reluctant to talk about different forms sexual orientation. Now, it is being discussed / debated in open and some section of the society even wants it to be legalized.

There is a saying: there is no change for change.

 

[mskmoorthy]

Here is another article about
How A Woman's Plan To Kill Herself Helped Her Family Grieve : Shots - Health News : NPR
Here are first three paragraphs from the above link

This story is in no way an endorsement of suicide. It's a description of one woman's choice and what came of it.

Five years ago, after doctors told her that she had Alzheimer's disease that would eventually steal her ability to read, write and recognize people, Sandy Bem decided to kill herself.

Sandy was 65 years old, an unsentimental woman and strong willed. For her, a life without books and the ability to recognize the people she loved wasn't a life she wanted

 

[JR]

Dear Sir,

I have one more example of someone (Hindu) who gave up his own life - sage Dadeechi. He gave up his life for the greater cause, giving up his life by creating yogic fire and letting himself burnt in it.

If someone's life has turned into an inescapable nightmare, day to day having to deal with pain, then how much can one put up with, until he/she eventually faces an untimely death? It is very incorrect to say individuals under these circumstances should not have a choice to end their own lives.

I have practically witnessed/heard my late MIL being in excruciating pain and headaches being afflicted by terminal Cancer and I know how much 'merciful' it is to grant someone their own willful death under these circumstances.

In the US, even treatment with some narcotics have been banned in many states and I remember voting 'Yes' for bringing into effect use of these substances for treatment.

Widening the scope of the mercy-killing act, even those 'acid-attack' victims who request their lives be put to an end can be considered. Just yesterday I read about the pathetic story of one Ms. Sonali Mukherjee, an Indian acid-attack victim who not only has a disfigured face, but also lost the eyesight completely in addition to losing partial hearing, was begging the govt to either help her financially or to give her permission to end her life. In a recent such attack, a young woman called 'Vinodhini' in TN lost her life after losing out in the battle against acid-attack on her which disfigured her face and blinded her. I feel immense mercy for such cases and honestly, putting myself in their position, I would not like to live in this condition for an entire life ahead of me and if their desire be to end their own life, then why not sanction it?

So these are my thoughts, and none of it are intended to offend anyone.

Best regards,

JR