Social service organizations conduct symposium on euthanasia

Social service organizations conduct symposium on euthanasia

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Mar 23: The Sahodaya Bethany Seva Kendra of Bendoor and the Shubhada Society of Suralpady jointly organized a symposium on euthanasia on March 23, Wednesday.

Delivering the introductory address, Rev. Sr. Wilberta BS, the superior general of the Bethany congregation and the president of the Bethany Social Service Trust, said that life is God’s gift.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prof. Rita Noronha, professor of Roshni Nilaya School of Social Work, moderated the event and said that euthanasia has several aspects such as social, human, legal, economical, and others. Stating the life should be lived with dignity, she said that certain health care systems, which only the rich can afford, do not allow the patient to either live or die. 

In her keynote address, Dr. Prabha Adhikari, the professor of medicine at Kasturba Medical College, said that doctors attempt to save people’s lives using ventilators and ICUs in India unlike the West, where it is accepted to stop treating patients who have stopped responding to treatment.

Revealing important information on euthanasia, she said that it should not be called “mercy killing,” but “happiness death” and added that “mercy killing” implies that doctors help the patients commit suicide. Speaking on various types of euthanasia, she said that doctors stop treating patients and give a high dose of medicine if patients suffer from severe pain and specially request death and if the doctors have certified that the patient is suffering from an incurable disease. This type of active euthanasia is now not permitted, she added.

Speaking about passive euthanasia, she said that in such a case doctors do not provide advanced treatment if the patient or his/her relatives request doctors to stop treatment and provide legal and medical proofs. Specially referring to the case of Aruna, she said that it is wrong on the part of journalist Pinky Virani to call her a “cabbage” or a “vegetable” because it is proved that people continue to listen for a few minutes even after death. She said that relatives have no rights to refuse treatment if the patient is leading a treatable condition.

Richard Alvares, the graduate assistant of St. Raymond’s High School, and Sr. Aileen SCCG, the nursing superintendent of Fr. Mullers Medical College, also spoke on the occasion. Sr. Mariette BS, the provincial superior of Mangalore, welcomed the guests and the gathering. Sr. Assumpta BS, the general coordinator of the Pastoral and Socio Medical Apostolate, proposed the vote of thanks.