Say you are dying of an illness and your doctor pronounces that you have no more than three months to live. Worried that your last days will be racked with unbearable pain, you ask to die.
Two doctors certify that you are of sound mind and have made the request voluntarily. They administer you with a drug overdose. Several minutes later, you are dead.
Two weeks ago, Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan raised the issue of whether euthanasia should be allowed in Singapore.
He had posed this question after reading about a debate on the topic that raged in the Chinese press.
One man even sent the minister a letter, written in red ink, asking that euthanasia be made legal.
Earlier, Mr Khaw had said that as Singapore comes to grips with an ageing population, it was time to talk about death and 'not sweep it under the carpet'.
Several MPs and doctors interviewed by The Sunday Times welcomed discussion on the highly controversial practice, even as they all said they were personally against euthanasia.
Jalan Besar GRC MP Lily Neo, a medical practitioner, said: 'By discussing it, we can understand how we can be more compassionate towards those who are suffering.'
But some were wary that the discussion would lead to more confusion about the procedure.
Dr Chin Jing Jih, executive director of the Singapore Medical Association's Centre for Medical Ethics and Professionalism, said there must be a consistent definition of euthanasia to ensure a good discussion.
He said this was especially relevant to discussion in the Chinese language, where euthanasia is known as an le si. Literally translated, the phrase means 'a peaceful and painless (or joyful) death'.
Unfortunately, this has led to confusion in the Chinese-speaking community as many tend to confuse euthanasia with palliative care, which involves the management of pain and suffering for terminally ill patients, he said.
As a result, many who merely advocate peaceful death end up on the record as saying they want euthanasia when they are actually not asking to be killed by their doctor, he said.
On the discussion of end-of-life issues, all interviewed said the focus should be on palliative care, which the Government is already looking into.
Dr Fatimah Lateef, an MP for Marine Parade GRC and a doctor for 18 years, said: 'I am more for counselling, proper pain control, and family and peer support in those with advanced disease.'
She added that she supported the Advance Medical Directive, which came into effect here in 1997 and allows an individual to say he does not want extraordinary life-sustaining treatment should he be terminally ill.
Dr Chin said the medical fraternity in Singapore has always been against the practice of euthanasia.
'We take the position that the solution to suffering in terminal illness is to continue to further develop and upgrade palliative care rather than legalise euthanasia,' he said. 'This is consistent with the role of the medical profession as healers and comfort providers, our professional values and underlying ethical tenets.'
Their concern is not only about the ethics involved but also about preventing abuse.
Madam Halimah Yacob, who chairs the Government Parliamentary Committee for Health, also felt the ground was not ready for the legalisation of euthanasia.
She said the feedback from her grassroots is that Singaporeans do not want euthanasia.
'I'm not quite sure if this is an area that we want to lead in,' she said.
jamieee@sph.com.sg
Do you think euthanasia should be legalised in Singapore? Have your say on straitstimes.com or send your views to suntimes@sph.com.sg
some comments by others
Euthanasia affords a person to die with dignity if he so wishes. It is the ultimate human right in a modern world where the fortunate already enjoy many other rights.
Not meant for the spineless, obviously, who believe that their life does not belong to them.
But has to be approached with some care, lest the right to die becomes the pressure to die. The proper safeguards will have to be in place.
Posted by: witness at Sun Oct 26 08:05:18 SGT 2008
Rebirth, karma, god -- quite a bunch of superstitions contained in a mighty short note. Impressive!
Posted by: witness at Sun Oct 26 08:02:10 SGT 2008
Today's sufferings is the cause of of last life's bad karma. Be brave and the only way is to seek God's forgiveness. Two wrongs do not make a right.
Posted by: xiao_hong at Sun Oct 26 06:40:33 SGT 2008
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