Thoughts on Euthanasia

I will try to discuss this highly controversial topic from the point of view of a clinician under the light of ethical principles. There are four ethical principles that govern the conduct of doctors in modern day medicine (Beauchamp and Childress 2001):

 1. Respect for patient autonomy

 2. Beneficence: promotion of what is best for the patient 

 3. Non-maleficence : avoiding harm to the patient

 4. Justice: patients with similar conditions should receive similar level of care

When a patient is terminally ill and her suffering is intolerable, the patient may decide it is too painful to live and that she is better off dead to end her sufferings. Provided that the patient is mentally competent, should a doctor comply with her request to terminate her life? Proponents of euthanasia would argue that it is acceptable to end life in such a situation because euthanasia in this case satisfies the first ethical principle – Respect for patient autonomy. A mentally competent patient has the autonomy to decide what she wants to do with her life. In addition, euthanasia in this case complies with the second ethical principle – Beneficence. By ending her life, the doctor is relieving her from the suffering, which in this case, is in the best interest of the patient whose quality of life is unacceptably low. By conducting euthanasia, the doctor is helping the patient avoid the intolerable suffering and is doing no harm; hence it complies with the third principle – Non-maleficence. Here, the principle of justice is not applicable. Therefore, euthanasia is in accordance with the ethical principles which the doctors should adhere to.

However, the opponents of euthanasia would argue that a terminally ill patient is likely to be vulnerable to the pressure by the people surrounding her and the decision to end her life might be the result of the influence of the people around her. In other words, there may be an element of coercion or manipulation. And that would be against the principle of autonomy. In addition, some people may exploit euthanasia to their advantage e.g. in cases of inheritance.  Moreover, some would argue that by legalizing euthanasia, the constraint of public towards killing will slip down and public will become more tolerant towards killing in general which will result in undesirable consequencs in the long run.

The debate over euthanasia is unlikely to be over soon. Both its opponents and proponents will keep on fighting fiercely for their conviction. Over the history, many practices, which were once illegal, are no longer considered crimes now. For example, abortion has now been legalized in many countries. In some countries, suicide is no longer a crime.  Competent patients can refuse life saving treatment. So who knows if euthanasia will not follow suit.

An Intergalactic Chat

“You are the love of my life; you are the one, please don’t go. Please keep talking to me”, he pleaded with her through his microphone.  A sad smile crossed her face and she whispered to herself, “I love you too”. He couldn’t hear her whisper. “I wish you find happiness in your life” she said to  him through the communicator. “You know we cannot talk to each other again.  The wormhole I am using is getting unstable and will disappear in a very short time. I can find other wormholes but I will never know where these holes will lead me to. The universe is a big place and I am three million light years away from you. Without the wormholes, if I send you a message now, it will reach you only after three million years. I doubt even your descendents will be left on earth at that time. The  probability of finding another wormhole which will lead directly to your place is extremely low. I mean it is impossible. It was by pure chance that my communicator located the wormhole we are using now and we have been able to talk to each other. I want you to know that it was the best thing ever happened to me in my life and the notion that I am going to lose it forever is breaking my heart”. She went on talking to him and he just listened tears welling up in his eyes. "During our conversations, I learned a lot about your species and especially about you. I am sure you did the same thing about me. Never in my life have I been so open and attached to another person and felt such a strong bond. You are so special for me. My communicator is going to stop any time soon. The wormhole is getting more unstable. Before it goes off, I want you to know that every night, I will be looking up the sky towards your galaxy. I will know you are somewhere inside the Milky Way and I will talk to you. You won’t hear me but please know that I will be talking to you…. looking towards you…" The communicator stopped as the wormhole dissolved …. She couldn’t hear him say, “Although I won’t hear what you say, my heart will understand it.”

My Bad Beauty

Beauty is just skin deep they say

It is the skin that I love

The inner quality I don’t care

But the skin shouldn’t be rough.

 

Rude be her language

May the name be rot

I will train my ears to that

But her touch must be soft.

 

Character, they say, is important

I would then ask “Who is perfect?”

Let them stay with the good “Ugly”

I am happy with my bad “Beauty”!

Timing

Love
When it came
I was too busy
Doing other things.

Love
Once it's gone
I've been too busy
Yearning for it.

Maung Sein Win's Poem

I liked a poem by Maung Sein Win so much that I have attempted to translate it . Should the reader find any fault, it is mine; not Maung Sein Win's.

Adore its fragrance should it blossom
Pick it up should it wither
Treasure it should it be parched.

Mesmerized by this one flower
In this life, will love only her
Should she be blossoming
Or should she be withered.

The Old Sailor

This is the first poem I have written in over 10 years. It can be considered as a sequel to my last poem "Unflinching Determination"

The Old Sailor

The sky covered with mighty clouds
Giant waves roaming free
Gale force winds tossing the boat
In the vast treacherous sea.

Weakened by unending journey
Forgotten by the old Time
Alone in stormy waters
The old sailor sailing for years.

All is gone and all is lost
In search of his coveted dream
Old sailor kept on sailing
To reach the land grass green.

Against all odds he’d travelled far
On his own for all those years
At last, a glimpse in his eyes
Of the green grass land worth die.

On green grass land the sailor lay
Lonely, lonely as always.

From Seine to Thames

From Seine to Thames

I was already missing France even before actually leaving it. The beauty and tranquillity of Nantes were getting my mind tinted with a delicate sense of regret. I went to the operation theatre of the CHU Nord Laënnec de Nantes for the last time. While in the changing room, I remembered the very first day I was in that theatre. I was at that time quite nervous and anxious about what was going to come. In fact, I was then being intimidated by the grandeur of the cardiac surgery which I had always considered the greatest in the realm of surgery. One year is enough for one to conquer all this. I felt now quite natural. I had witnessed and done what I considered the greatest in the world. I had been doing it for all year long. I wondered if it had been merely a dream. I assisted Monsieur Al Habash in the beating heart coronary artery bypass. I always liked to assist Monsieur Al Habash and I was glad my last operation was with him. After the operation, all the nurses were waiting for me in the sitting room. Professeur Michaud had given a bottle of Champagne for my farewell. We opened up the bottle and drank a glass each. After wishing and drinking, it was time to say Au revoir. They all kissed me good bye. Françoise was the first one to kiss me; and I was glad for it because she was my favourite. She once said in front of others “Pour moi, il est un ange” (For me, he is an angel!)

Marie-Claude came to fetch me at the Intern House. After giving the last glance to the CHU de Nantes which had given me generous experience in cardiac surgery, I was off to La Trousserie - the farm of the Delaunays. When we got there, Antoine and Eva were preparing for a special dinner. Marie-Claude told me that the children were expecting their friends for dinner and she, Hubert and me were dining in town. I gave Marie-Claude my token of gratitude and friendship – a framed water colour painting of the landscape of middle Burma done by myself. She was evidently overjoyed and touched by my present. She instantly hung it on the wall.

It was 8 o’ clock and they showed no sign of going out. I was a bit hungry by that time. At half past eight, to my surprise, Radu, Katia, Renée and Michel turned up; and only then did I realise that the dinner they were preparing was meant for my farewell!! I found out that they had been planning it weeks ahead and keeping it a secret so as to give me a pleasant surprise! Their purpose was served and I felt really cherished. Marie-Claude had prepared an oriental theme - a Singaporean noodle soup, cucumber salad as entrée and Indian style chicken curry and rice as the main dish – and we ate with chopsticks which was quite a challenge for the old folks Renée and Michel! I enjoyed the wine and cheese. After dinner, I played a couple of classics for my beloved friends.

Lying in bed in my usual bedroom, a series of thoughts came into my mind. The forthcoming exam was worrying me. The feeling of what-comes-next was overwhelming my thoughts. Despite the anxiety, I could still remember my very first day in Nantes; how I met Marie-Claude while having a great difficulty carrying the heavy luggage in the street, the poorly furnished room in Jacque Tymen, how she invited me to their farmhouse, how I got so much attached to that family, how I got to know Radu who later became like a brother, how my life in France had been comfortable thanks to all my friends and how people who had been so far apart and had not had the slightest idea of the existence of one another became bosom friends in such a short time. All because of an unexpected encounter in a street! Life is strange – pleasantly unpredictable!

Next morning, I was off to Paris with Marie-Claude and Eva. They were driving that 400km distance just to see me off at the Gare de Nord. That evening, I went to a Burmese friend who had invited some of my Parisian friends to bid me farewell. We ate Monhinga and tea leave salad and talked.

Next day, Marie-Claude, Eva and I visited a cartoon exposition by Philippe Geluck – Le Chat s’expose. It was a nice humorous exposition. That evening, I was with another group of friends; this time in a boathouse on the river Seine. We ate, sang and talked all night. My last night in France. Next day, I was going to say Au revoir to the most romantic city in the world. The moon was shining.

I was really grateful to all my friends who had accompanied me to the Gare de Nord. Without them, I would have faced a great difficulty carrying my heavy and awkward luggage which was solely responsible for my fortunate encounter with Marie-Claude in the first place. After giving bisous to Marie-Claude, Eva and two Burmese friends, I set off for the land of Big Ben. The train journey was uneventful except that I fell asleep missing the chance to take a photo before going into the Euro Tunnel. I had to be satisfied with the photo of other end of the Tunnel.

In two and a half hour, I was in London Victoria station where three friends of mine were waiting for me. Again lucky with my luggage! That is why I love my friends!! Going to Beckton where I had to stay for a month, I saw the River Thames. I passed by the River Seine only that morning in Paris. I hope the latter will forgive me for changing to the side of its most bitter rival.

It was great to see my classmates again. And to eat the Burmese food as well. However, I could not savour the pleasure to its fullest because the exam was haunting me. I had so little time left to prepare. The failure would cost me a great deal of time, money and most importantly my morale. I could not take any risk. I had to be well prepared. My proper preparation for the exam commenced the next day. It was best for me to forget the Eiffel tower and the river Seine at least for a short while. I had to cope with the Big Ben and the river Thames instead. This is life.




Thura Tun
February 2, 2004