LIVE IN PAIN OR DIE IN PEACE
By Zhao Xiao Chen
The most salient characteristic of life is its coerciveness. We can’t predict what will happen the next minute, be it a prize or an accident; neither can we deny what life will impose on us, be it a fortune or a catastrophe. Painful as life may be, it is no excuse for exiting the stage of life. Life is a one – time shot and lost chance never returns. Everyone understands it but people turn to forego life regardless. Why do they make the choice? A diary may give us some clues.
The diary became known on the blog of a 28 – year – old Chinese girl, Li Yan. Suffering from Muscular Dystrophy Disease (DMD), an incurable disease deservedly nicknamed "super cancer", she’s been confined to wheelchair for 27 years and had to rely entirely on her parents for that span of time.
"It was raining. Mother and I were on our way home. I used to be so scared in rainy weather and pray that mom and dad would come soon and wheel me home, but now I only feel the comfort as wind drifted by and raindrops kissed my face and arm.”
We can hardly imagine that the words were from a girl who had gone through hell. She is so sensitive, tender, easily-satisfied and therefore always thankful. It may sound differently considering that she wrote down the story with a chopstick between teeth.
“I love life, but I’d rather die. I must die before my parents, or my life will be miserable. Without their catering me, I shall die smelly and ugly. I don’t want to be that way……”
Euthanasia, as Yi Yan sees, is a way out. She said so in a message she left on a popular hostess’s blog. But so far it is wish - impossible in China, as practicing euthanasia violates the state law. That’s why Yan pinned her hope on the hostess to help her by making her wish known to representatives of People’s Congress, the only people who can legalize euthanasia. She even claimed that she would starve to death should her attempt fail, as she has no strength to kill herself any other way.
Her story triggered a renewed bout of nation – wide debate on legalizing euthanasia. Recently, she was invited as a special guest to a Phoenix TV talk show. Her story is suspected by some audience, but most people believe it and show great sympathy. There are supports and opposition, as it always has.
Euthanasia could easily end the pain of patients and relieve their families, who look after them round the clock, from pressure. It also spares giddy levels of medical cost. However, opponents criticize the practice as inhumane. “Doctors are supposed to save lives, not take them.” said they. Worse still, should the lethal means fall into vicious hands, consequence could exceed the wildest guess. Admittedly, euthanasia could save medical resources for more productive use on those who can be cured, but everyone deserves a chance to cling to life; many are willing to suffer whatever it takes.
As Chinese case of the kind go, Li Yan’s is not fresh. The first occurred in 1986, when a person named Wang Mingcheng pleaded a doctor to end his mother’s pain by terminating her life. Both the doctor and Wang Mingcheng were jailed but public attention was drawn to it ever since. Yet high tech gets in the play this time. Li Yan is the first to use ‘blog’, a modern communication tool, to relate her story and call for help.
It’s still early to tell how much high tech could help. If she managed to carry off more than her predecessors, it would amount to a step forward.
As yet, the best we can do is to keep our fingers crossed for this girl.
The diary became known on the blog of a 28 – year – old Chinese girl, Li Yan. Suffering from Muscular Dystrophy Disease (DMD), an incurable disease deservedly nicknamed "super cancer", she’s been confined to wheelchair for 27 years and had to rely entirely on her parents for that span of time.
"It was raining. Mother and I were on our way home. I used to be so scared in rainy weather and pray that mom and dad would come soon and wheel me home, but now I only feel the comfort as wind drifted by and raindrops kissed my face and arm.”
We can hardly imagine that the words were from a girl who had gone through hell. She is so sensitive, tender, easily-satisfied and therefore always thankful. It may sound differently considering that she wrote down the story with a chopstick between teeth.
“I love life, but I’d rather die. I must die before my parents, or my life will be miserable. Without their catering me, I shall die smelly and ugly. I don’t want to be that way……”
Euthanasia, as Yi Yan sees, is a way out. She said so in a message she left on a popular hostess’s blog. But so far it is wish - impossible in China, as practicing euthanasia violates the state law. That’s why Yan pinned her hope on the hostess to help her by making her wish known to representatives of People’s Congress, the only people who can legalize euthanasia. She even claimed that she would starve to death should her attempt fail, as she has no strength to kill herself any other way.
Her story triggered a renewed bout of nation – wide debate on legalizing euthanasia. Recently, she was invited as a special guest to a Phoenix TV talk show. Her story is suspected by some audience, but most people believe it and show great sympathy. There are supports and opposition, as it always has.
Euthanasia could easily end the pain of patients and relieve their families, who look after them round the clock, from pressure. It also spares giddy levels of medical cost. However, opponents criticize the practice as inhumane. “Doctors are supposed to save lives, not take them.” said they. Worse still, should the lethal means fall into vicious hands, consequence could exceed the wildest guess. Admittedly, euthanasia could save medical resources for more productive use on those who can be cured, but everyone deserves a chance to cling to life; many are willing to suffer whatever it takes.
As Chinese case of the kind go, Li Yan’s is not fresh. The first occurred in 1986, when a person named Wang Mingcheng pleaded a doctor to end his mother’s pain by terminating her life. Both the doctor and Wang Mingcheng were jailed but public attention was drawn to it ever since. Yet high tech gets in the play this time. Li Yan is the first to use ‘blog’, a modern communication tool, to relate her story and call for help.
It’s still early to tell how much high tech could help. If she managed to carry off more than her predecessors, it would amount to a step forward.
As yet, the best we can do is to keep our fingers crossed for this girl.
posted by Editor @ 2:10 AM
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