There are two things that have inspired me to write this. The first was a quote I heard in a documentary by Robert Oppenheimer (who apparently picked it up from Bhagvad Gita) , “Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds.”   For some reason I cannot get it out of my head. The second reason was just something that popped into my mind as I started to think of the title. It is a commonly heard saying Live and let live.

If living and letting others live is such a fundamental truth and postulate of various philosophies and religions, then what about death? Where does that fit in? Why is death always the ignored child of the same parent? After all if live then death. Maybe in a thousand years that does not have to be the truth but at this stage of human civilization you cannot avoid dying. It is the only absolute fact of your future. Everything else in your life is uncertain but Death is the absolute certain event that you cannot avoid.

That prompted me to the line of thought. If you are born and you are certain to die and if we believe in Live and let live, then isn’t it logical to follow that you should be able to Die and let die. Shouldn’t people have the right to freedom of death on their terms.

As I write this only 4 countries in the world allow Euthanasia. There are various grey areas where it can be ethically debated on whether the right to die is correct or moral. But there are two reasons where I believe people should have right to die. The first is to avoid suffering and the second is in joy.

The first is easy to understand. Our medicine is not perfect and the nature at times is brutal. There are times when people are suffering (terribly) and each day is an exercise in agony. There might be hope in some cases but when that hope is tied to years of suffering as well, I believe people should have the right to choose death over suffering. They should be able to authorize their death and in cases where they are suffering, the doctor (and not the first of kin) should be allowed to take that decision. It is hard to let go as a father or son, mother or daughter, brother or sister. But we know nothing of the suffering of the people who are on the bed. Our emotions should not be the reason to let a loved one suffer more and more. The doctor should be able to take that decision of whether to administer euthanasia. And this makes me think that maybe the doctors will also feel like Oppenheimer and mentally quote “Now I am become death” to themselves.

It wasn’t easy to allow even freedom to live at first. We had a slave culture for a long long time. The right to live was, for a long time, was the privilege of the rich. It was a long and difficult fight to ensure the right to live for everyone. And so right to die wont be easy to come by. It might seem weird and even preposterous right now but I believe people should have the right to die as they choose.

The second reason is more complicated. If you do believe in religion then this perhaps wont make sense. But if you do not believe in religion then you might have questioned the purpose of life. I feel that there can be people who have lived happily, have done the things they wanted to the fullest and after a point there isn’t much more to do. If all I wanted to do in my life was to see Taj Mahal and I have done that and I feel fulfilled, then I should be allowed to end my life at a high. I mean people must have even done this and continue to do so.

Over time the population of the world will continue increasing, and a lot of people would have reached the point where all they are doing is just passing the days till death comes. Shouldn’t they have the option to choose the time to go? I feel they should. I would want such an option as well.

When we think of people and their career, we talk of leaving on a high. We want to see people leave their professions at a high, at the prime of their lives. Do we want to see CEO’s of the company be CEO’s in their 90’s and struggling with their walking? No, the government mandates the maximum retirement age. I DO NOT propose a law on how long people can live. I however do want people to have the option of leaving on a high. Of making death a choice and not an uncertain event. I want people to be able to plan their time to go after settling their affairs.

With effects of medicine on prolonging life at an all time high, we will have people living more and more. But what is the value addition of a life when you are 90? I personally wouldn’t really have much left to do or want if I am 90 and just barely managing my essential functions. I would rather choose to die with dignity and not as a result of some weird accident like falling down the stairs.

There are countries like India where suicide is a crime. I mean seriously, if you attempt to die, you better be good. If you do not succeed the government, the law and the country will make you suffer for doing so. I mean who frames these laws and isn’t there any concept of common sense. If someone just tried to kill himself, you need to attempt to help the person and not prosecute them.

The fact is that our world cannot support the population we will become. And we will have millions, if not billions, of people living empty lives. Why then should they not have a chance to go on their terms? Why do you want to make them suffer? Why do you want them to continue an empty existence past their highs?

And that I feel is a question we need to address sooner or later. Shouldn’t people have the right to die? Shouldn’t we start believing in the philosophy of Die and Let die