Euthanasia - the right to die ( Li Yan from Ningxia Autonomous Region, China)
The case of a 28-year-old female Li Yan from China on her personal weblog conveying her wish for a draft proposal on “peaceful dying” (安ä¹æ»), or euthanasia has sparked intense debate in China. She is from China’s northern Ningxia Autonomous Region.
Normally cases like these are swept under the carpet. But this young lady who is cancer ridden has touched the hearts and souls of many until the country itself has to do a lot of soul-searching. Should euthanasia be legalized? What are the pros and cons for it? Her case caught the attention of the whole country when popular CCTV investigative news anchor Chai Jing (柴é™) posted a message from the cancer patient, Li Yan (æŽç‡•).
Death is seldom discussed in public forums. It is a part of life but not merry or an occasion to rejoice as giving birth. For many Chinese, death is final with few even knowing or caring about the after-life. Death is only celebrated when a person lives to a ripe old age surrounded by his descendants.
It is thus in a way taboo for Chinese society to even think about euthanasia. How can a human being kill a fellow human being?
Doctors sometimes do not know enough about caring for terminally-ill patients and treatment for pain. The general public is more sympathetic towards those who attempt to kill themselves. They understand the concept of pain and suffering. However this is an issue few political parties dare to touch in the near future. It is too sensitive.
Useful links
BBC
sina.com
clericalwhispers
Li Yan
if she wants to die, who can stop her, she’ll gone sooner or later
She has a life. what if she makes a mistake..who will bear the guilt? what if she has money and her relatives gang up on her and say she wants to die..i am talking generally..euthanasia..or a husband who wants to remarry..or a son who wants to inherit her money or a daughter who doesn’t want to take care of her in her old age..i am talking of possible abuse if it is legalized
I think that the solution here is for the Chinese authorities to put in place measures to care for people like Li Yan. A nursing home or some kind of care for disabled people who cannot look after themselves. Euthansia is unhumane and will not solve the problem. Every life is precious and if a person has lost the will to live, it is the social responsibility of those around her — and by this, I mean society at large, not just her family and friends — to care for her and show her that life is worth living.
It is callous to say that since she wants to die, we should allow her to do so “…since she will be gone sooner or later.” We must not allow such unfeeling thoughts to be propagated. In Li Yan’s distressed state of mind, it is perfectly understandable for her to entertain such thoughts. However, it is totally unacceptable for us — society at large — to condone it and even pass legislation to allow it. Euthanasia is, at its very core, murder and suicide. Murder and suicide is the wilful taking of a life and that can never be right whatever the circumstances.