One of our friends father had a heart attack last week in India. We went to his house just to cheer him up a little. As we were talking about the medical facilities and natural health conditions, the truth dawned upon me so spontaneous that it has changed my complete process of thinking. He said that even though his father’s life is saved who is around 70 years old, but his day today activities will completely change now .He can no more do any minor strenuous activity and will have to live a limited life style in retrospect. He seemed very unhappy about that.
Countries like U.S.A., Japan, and Canada have become so advanced in medical treatments and research that average Life span has gone up tremendously. In one sense it is good, that you feel fortunate to live with your loved ones for a long time, but if you look at the other side, life is becoming more and more miserable.
It is in fact true. The diseases which are curable and do not limit your daily activity to certain extent, should get all the proper attention. But I feel that fighting with nature and God, is giving us too many undesired results. It is hard to let our loved ones go by the nature’s rule but that survival buys them a long suffering life. Although no one’s life is impeccable, dependency and painful life can be the worst thing happen to any one. It is hard to put some one’s life on peril because of this fact.
If some one suffers from heart attack, his survival is matter of minutes or perhaps few seconds, but just think about the life long torture he will go through till he is alive.
But for what?
Americans are very big and proud about their medical facilities and increased life span. That is good for some extent and in some cases. But just think about how many old people you see in malls or watching movies or in public places enjoying life. All these medical facilities do in fact increase their life span but they keep on dying every bit, ever second of their life spending in old age homes and places like that. Discarded from family members and life and just waiting to die. Why should they have to suffer this long?My idea for staying alive is only till you can enjoy life on your own,and not feel your self burden on some one or just dragging your life till 90 years.That is absurd for me.I would never prefer that kind of life for my self.But then different strokes for different folks.It is just my way of thinking,every one might not agree with me.
In my mind proving treatment for certain diseases which will save the life but will increase the suffering in the long time is a dubious proposition. In old times in our country our grandfather and some other relatives got old, their system got old, had heart attack and that was it. They left us in pain and fond memories, but this way neither did they suffer for more 7-8 years or what ever, and neither did we see them suffer till they struggle with medicine and medical facilities to die. In India at least old parents live with some family, but here in the U.S. ,I feel pity on them .Even though seniors are more independent in the U.S., than Indian Seniors but emotionally they are all broken.
Unfortunately, the culture we lived in back then is gone. A glitch will always remain in my heart, that somewhere, something's not right, but at least for my parents and especially for my self I would prefer a smooth sudden death than struggle on life support for years.I will love to go the God's way.
I do respect your wishes and and so does law, and hence the provision for a living will.Wherein you can direct the way you would like to live and the way you would like to die.
ReplyDeleteThe Medical profession only endeavours to improve the quality of life not prolong life itself.
Even in India, where life expecatancy wasn't more than 40 odd years pre-independance, is now towering at its hightest of 65 years.
Is that a boon or a bane, I don't know.
I would however like to ask you, had that been some one you knew, suffering in pain with a heart attack or an abdominal colic, would you really just sit around and do nothing to alleviate the pain? Forget pain, what about fever do we not take a tylenol? Would you not?And why do you do that? I guess answer to this question might bring some peace to your thoughts.
My disagreement is towards those diseases which could be cured but can make like life very miserable ,not about curing those mundane disease like fever,colic pain.My disgareement is towards those treatments which will keep your heart pumping but you will lead a disabled life for the rest of your life span.
ReplyDeleteWhat does your friend's father think? Does he want to live even though he maybe disabled?
ReplyDelete"I will love to go the God's way."
ReplyDelete- Very far sighted post. I understand that our elderly are much cared for in their homes than in the US - but things are eroding here too. I see so many elders being mistreated nowadays (like in the movie Bagban). Iagree its better to die in peace than prolong on life support.
you are right in a way. there are cases where people are kept alive with the help of life-support systems with no hope of getting back to normalcy. it is sad.
ReplyDeleteInteresting post. I did get your point but would like to add to your post.
ReplyDeleteIncreasing life expectancy is like increasing the productive capacity of a nation. India is losing much due to lesser life expectancy of its citizens.
I also believe that senior citizens in developed countries lead a better life than those in India. I have seen 60 year old people, cycyling in summer, having bbq parties, skiing in winter and going on vacation in spring. The culture and other emotional thing is just a myth, that is no more even in India now.
Loneliness and depression brings a lot of health factors in our country. As you spoke about NA and Japan, ppl' have a companion and they are less stressed. They have freedom to enjoy their life and the society accepts that.
ReplyDeleteIn India, once you are retired, you are treated as if you have done some mistake sititng at home.
How many senior citizens go for a regular checkup every year.
Its all timing and depends on how careful you are in your food intake, exercise so on.
I crawled thru' raj site and my first visit here.
green satya:
ReplyDelete**Increasing life expectancy is like increasing the productive capacity of a nation**
I don't agree with it. I think increasing the life expectency reduces the per-capita income of the country and puts a stress on the resources because the seniors are not productive. I don't like to say that and I do think everybody has the right to live as long as they can. But those are the facts.
I agree with the concept of living till you are able to.
ReplyDeleteBut the main point is that!.. human nature is to be greedy!.. to live more and that is that main reason that you tend to prefer suffer and still live!.. than to leave the universe when the nature called you!..
ReplyDelete