Life At Any Cost: Why We Fight To Prolong Life But Question The Idea To Ease Death?

Updated May 15, 2025 | 07:10 PM IST

SummaryAssisted dying laws vary globally, reflecting deep ethical divides. While some see it as a dignified choice, others fear misuse. Real-life stories reveal love, pain, and the complexity of choice.
Life At Any Cost: Why We Fight To Prolong Life But Question The Idea To Ease Death?

There are certain kinds of suffering that cannot be fully described in any language. Seeing someone you love disintegrate slowly- body, mind, and soul compels you to an emotional limbo in which hope, love, and sorrow get mixed up painfully. I lived through this experience with my paternal uncle, once a towering 6’2” figure of energy and wit, suffered a debilitating brain stroke. For the next seven years, our family watched him shrink, not just physically but in every possible way. A man who once lit up rooms became bed-bound, barely conscious, and unrecognizable. His laughter, once infectious, was replaced by silent gasps and spasms. His wife, my aunt, aged a decade in two years. The entire household lived in suspended animation, haunted by guilt, torn by duty, and plagued by helplessness.

Another tragedy was of a young daughter, in her late 30s, who had given every fiber of her existence to nursing her disease-stricken father, bedridden. Despite all efforts, he fell into a long, agonizing decline. One evening, with shaking hands and crying eyes, she admitted, "I prayed to God to take him. I couldn't stand to watch him suffer anymore." I despised myself for it, but I couldn't help it." That instant summed up a silent truth that went unspoken: when does the need to preserve life become the desire to permit a peaceful death?

As these stories reveal, there are moments where death is not a villain but a long-awaited release. This perspective fuels the growing global debate on euthanasia and assisted dying. Though often used interchangeably, these terms bear crucial legal and ethical distinctions.

Euthanasia is where there is a third party usually a physician actively performing actions to put an end to a patient's life to cure suffering. Where it is performed at the request of the patient, it's referred to as voluntary euthanasia.

Assisted suicide means assisting someone in ending their life, often with prescribed lethal drugs. The difference here is that the patient carries out the final action.

Assisted dying is a more general term and frequently used when policy or advocacy is involved. It could mean either of the above, though certain groups reserve it to describe assisted suicide for patients with terminal conditions.

Yet another practice of end-of-life care, palliative sedation, permits profound sedation all the way to death for those who are suffering unbearable distress. Not considered legal euthanasia, yet having its ethics dangerously close, it remains at the center of much philosophical argumentation.

In countries such as the UK, these acts are still illegal. Assisting suicide can bring a maximum of 14 years in prison, and euthanasia can be considered murder. Yet, actions such as withholding treatment from terminal or vegetative patients — often referred to as passive euthanasia — are permitted.

Stories That Stir the Debate: Dignity and Choice

The strongest arguments for or against assisted death are not in legal documents but in living testimonials.

One of the cases that stirred international headlines was that of Noa Pothoven, a 17-year-old Dutch woman who had been afflicted with extreme mental illness, including anorexia and depression. Early media accounts misrepresented her death as a case of legal euthanasia. Actually, she starved to death and dehydrated under medical supervision, and her physicians, in respect for her autonomy, did not act to stop it.

Noa had endured years of intense PTSD, depression, and anorexia, stemming from violent sexual abuse. Following several hospitalizations and efforts to manage her mental illness, she made the heartbreaking choice to withhold food and fluids—a legal option in the Netherlands.

Unlike the media accounts, her death was not due to physician-assisted euthanasia, but voluntary withdrawal of treatment. Her doctors and family respected her wish to discontinue interventions, upholding her autonomy in the face of their own grief.

This case highlights how mental distress, as with physical pain, can propel people towards death—not on impulse, but with deliberate intent. It also reveals how misinformation can taint ethical debate.

In another dramatic case, Louise Shackleton candidly discussed taking her husband, Anthony, to Switzerland, where he opted to die at Dignitas. Anthony had advanced motor neuron disease and had lost his bodily functions over the course of years.

"He didn't have choices. What he desired was nothing more than a good death," Louise told in a moving interview.

Upon returning to the UK, she turned herself in, knowing full well the legal consequences of assisting a suicide and yet had no regrets. “I loved him. He was my husband. I was with him until the end.”

Her story brings forward an essential question: If we can choose how we live, should we not also have the right to choose how we die?

When her husband Anthony, a renowned furniture restorer, was diagnosed with motor neuron disease, he rapidly lost the capacity to live independently. "He didn't want to be in a bed unable to move, unable to even turn his head," Louise said to Sky News. They talked about his end-of-life choices over two years.

Anthony eventually went for Dignitas in Switzerland. Louise accompanied him there, remained with him, and saw him pass away peacefully—unencumbered by the physical prison his sickness had constructed around him.

When she returned to the UK, Louise turned herself in to the authorities for helping him commit suicide—legally a crime. But she stands firm on her position. "He was my husband and I loved him. I helped him find peace."

As more and more support it, assisted dying is still one of the most debated ethical challenges today. Critics have legitimate points — risk of coercion, dignity of human life, and the risk of exploitation of the vulnerable. Especially where mental illness comes into play, critics contend that wanting to die may be symptomatic, rather than a choice.

Yet, supporters point out that tight controls, psychiatric assessments, and medical screening are already the cornerstone of current legislation in legal states. It's a matter of dignity, choice, and humane relief not harm for them.

Joseph Awuah-Darko, a British-Ghanaian artist aged 28 and residing in the Netherlands, has taken an unimaginably courageous step: after years of struggling with severe bipolar disorder, he has opted to seek euthanasia. His is not a tale of hopelessness, but of profound emotional introspection, strength, and a quest for human contact amidst chronic mental suffering.

Diagnosed with bipolar disorder, a mental condition that triggers savage mood swings between manic highs and depressive lows—Joseph has spent years struggling through a mental health system that, no matter how hard he tried, never provided him with lasting relief. The emotional burden of his experience weighed so heavily on him that he made the agonizing decision to seek out medically assisted death, a legal possibility in the Netherlands under strict guidelines.

In a tearful Instagram video released in December, Joseph explained, "I'm Joseph, I am bipolar and I moved to the Netherlands to legally end my life."

In brutal candor and chilling vulnerability, he explained how every morning starts with "severe pain." It took him five years of thinking before he submitted his official request to the Euthanasia Expert Centre. It can take four years to get approval, a timeline that reflects the seriousness and stringency of the process.

"I am NOT special," he penned. "Like a lot of folks in their 20s; the ongoing burnout, debt, paralysing depression, violent media cycle and the dystopian truth of AI … all bear heavily." For Joseph, these meals are not simply sustenance—they are acts of presence, community, and comfort in the late hours of his narrative.

What Doctors Think?

Curing isn't always healing. Sometimes it's just relieving pain. Sometimes, restoring dignity. Sometimes, it simply is releasing — with grace, with peace, with control. For the sick who suffer without respite — physically or emotionally — the freedom to choose a death with dignity can be as therapeutic as any miracle medicine.

Dr. Tonmoy Sharma, Psychiatrist & Neuroscientist shares, "Choosing to die is not always driven by depression or emotional crisis. In many cases, especially where assisted dying is legal, it is a deliberate and carefully considered decision. These are often made by individuals with terminal illnesses or degenerative conditions who retain full mental capacity. These people may not be clinically depressed, but they are suffering in a way that no treatment can relieve, and they want control over how and when their life ends."

Dr Tonmoy further answers the pivotal question about why some people feel so helpless from their sufferings that they no longer want to live. "This question takes on different meanings depending on whether someone is experiencing mental illness or facing irreversible physical decline."

"In cases of terminal physical illness or chronic, untreatable conditions, helplessness often stems from the loss of control over one's body and the erosion of dignity. These individuals are not seeking death because they feel worthless or unloved, they may have supportive families and full access to care. Rather, they seek assisted dying because the suffering is constant and unrelenting, and they wish to preserve autonomy over the remainder of their life," adds Dr Tonmoy.

"On the other hand, when people experiencing clinical depression feel helpless, their thoughts may be clouded by negative thinking patterns—a symptom of the illness itself. These individuals may feel hopeless or burdensome, even when they are not. Their suffering is real, but it is often reversible with proper treatment."

While caregivers—whether family or professionals, witness suffering up close. In many cases, it’s the person who is ill who initiates the conversation about assisted dying. Families often need time to come to terms with this decision, even when it comes from a place of clarity, not despair.

Dr Tonmoy explains, "For loved ones, the idea of a planned death can feel unnatural. They may struggle with guilt, sadness, or confusion, not because they don’t understand, but because letting go is never easy. Often, the person must gently convince their family, helping them see that the decision is not about giving up, but about preserving dignity."

"Despite all this, many caregivers ultimately stand by their loved one’s decision. Still, they carry their own burdens and deserve support as they navigate the complex emotional journey that comes with love, loss, and end-of-life care."

As medicine progresses, it is more and more possible to lengthen life. But the question of ethics persists: At what expense? If healing is also the cessation of suffering — both for patients and their caretakers then perhaps, in carefully examined instances, assisted death can really be an act of love, not defeat.

Where the World Stands on Legal Assisted Dying?

As the world continues to wrestle with the morality of assisted dying, a number of nations have proceeded with legalization, usually in stringent conditions. Here is where the world legal landscape stands:

United States

Ten states and the District of Columbia permit physician-assisted dying under statutes that generally cover terminally ill patients with fewer than six months to live. Oregon, the first to make it legal in 1997, mandates strict consent procedures. While narrow in scope, it recognizes the dignity of those to be inevitably killed.

Canada

Canada's "Medical Assistance in Dying" (MAiD) law started in 2016 and has since grown. It started out being reserved for individuals with foreseeable death but now covers patients with grievous and irremediable illnesses, although a planned expansion to cover mental illness was delayed until 2027.

The Netherlands and Belgium

Both countries allow euthanasia and assisted suicide under strict conditions, including unbearable suffering with no prospect of improvement. Belgium even permits minors to request euthanasia, provided there’s parental consent.

Switzerland

Home to Dignitas, Switzerland has allowed assisted dying since 1942, provided there's no selfish motive. Foreign nationals can legally access services here, leading to the controversial concept of “suicide tourism.”

Australia and Spain

Both countries allow voluntary assisted dying for terminally ill patients. Australia has stringent state-by-state rules, while Spain provides euthanasia and assisted suicide through its national legislation enacted in 2021.

Dr. Tonmoy Sharma is a Psychiatrist & Neuroscientist, CEO of Merlin Health in India

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July 4th Firework Accidents Are Common—Here’s How to Stay Safe

Updated Jul 4, 2025 | 10:00 PM IST

SummaryEach year, around July 4, ERs see a spike in injuries—from fireworks burns and eye trauma to alcohol-related accidents, grill burns, and heatstroke. Experts urge safety precautions, as over 45,000 people visit the ER on July 4–5 alone.
July 4th Firework Accidents Are Common—Here’s How to Stay Safe

Credits: Canva

Fourth of July is here, and while it is a day of celebration, most commonly with fireworks, the same is also the reason why many end up in the emergency room or in the ER.

As HealthDay reports, on an average, around 250 people a day end up in the ER with fireworks-related injuries in the month before and also after Independence Day. More than 75% of these injuries are around the head, neck, arms, and hands, notes the American Academy of Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS).

Dr Patrick Byrne, who is a facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon and president of AAFPRS says, and is as reported by HealthDay, "These injuries can include burns, eye trauma and hearing or vision issues, and in some cases, disfigurement."

In a news release, he added that treatments to these burns often require multidisciplinary approach.

Prevention Is Always Better Than Cure

Staying safe during firework displays is easier than you think—just follow a few key precautions:

To begin with, it’s safest to enjoy fireworks at professional shows rather than setting off your own. Experts strongly recommend leaving the light show to trained professionals.

If you do use fireworks at home, never allow children near them—even sparklers can reach temperatures close to 2,000°F and cause serious burns.

Avoid touching or re-lighting fireworks that don’t go off (known as “duds”). Instead, wait at least 20 minutes, then soak them in water before safely disposing of them.

Always keep a bucket of water or a hose nearby in case of fire or malfunction.

If you’re lighting firecrackers yourself, do so one at a time, and step away quickly after ignition.

Fourth of July: A Day Of Celebration And Busiest ER Day

As per the Pew Research Center, more than 45,000 people visit the ER on July 4 and 5, each year. This is the highest number of daily medical emergency.

The New York Post reports and quotes Dr Ryan Marino, MD., an ER doctor and associate professor at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, "his time of year, we see big increases in traumatic injuries and heat-related illness."

Dr Ryan also adds, "While fireworks accidents and injuries get most of the attention, there are far more falls, broken bones, head injuries and car accidents, just to name a few.”

Dr. Robert Biernbaum, an emergency medicine physician in Fairport, New York told the Fox News Digital, "We routinely see a sharp spike in preventable injuries and medical emergencies."

Most Common Injuries On July 4th

Dr Biernbaum says that most common injuries are fireworks "by far". “We see everything from minor hand and facial burns to severe trauma from fireworks exploding in close proximity,” he said. “Improvised or illegal fireworks tend to cause the worst damage.”

Dr. Betsy Koickel, chief medical officer of Memorial Hermann-GoHealth Urgent Care in Houston, Texas told the Fox News Digital that there are many kinds of firework injuries, including eye injuries, or hearing injuries. "ye injuries are particularly troubling, as they can include corneal burns, scratches or even permanent vision loss due to flying debris or sudden explosions. The loud blasts can also harm hearing, especially in young children, sometimes resulting in ringing in the ears (tinnitus) or even long-term hearing damage,” she says.

Other Common Injuries Include

Alcohol-related incidents: vehicle accidents resulting in head injuries and fractures; and alcohol poisoning

Grill burns and cooking accidents: As per the National Fire Protection Association, US, July is also the peak month for grill fires. It results in flash burns and cuts due to mishandling propane tanks or grills, especially on hands and arms.

Heat Exhaustion And Dehydration: Prolonged outdoor activity also leads to severe dehydration or even heatstroke. It can also lead to kidney damage.

Car and boat accidents: This is also related to alcohol-related incidents. However, speeding boat accidents are also common and could result in ruptured spleen and multiple fractures.

Drowning and Near drowning: As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, July has highest number of drowning deaths as compared to all months.

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This Year, Doctor's Day Reminded That Doctors Too Are Humans And Can Get Emotionally Exhausted

Updated Jul 4, 2025 | 03:50 PM IST

SummaryThis Doctor’s Day highlighted the urgent need to support doctors’ mental health. A survey revealed rising burnout, blurred personal boundaries, constant digital demands, and growing fears of violence—all contributing to chronic stress and emotional exhaustion in the medical community.
This Year, Doctor's Day Reminded That Doctors Too Are Humans And Can Get Emotionally Exhausted

Credits: Canva

This year's Doctor's Day was a reminder to all that doctor's too are human. The theme specifically focused on healing the healers, emphasizing on the need for people to recognize doctor's struggle and treat them with empathy and sympathy.

No Lines Between Personal And Professional Life

Health and Me had earlier reported on how doctors, even when they are not at work receive work questions all the time. In a previous interview with Health and Me, Dr Guru N Reddy, a senior gastroenterologist, shared, “I didn’t spend time with my family when my kids were growing up. My work always came first and then came my family.” He also shared that how whenever he is gone for a gathering, it turns into an unofficial consultation desk. “Can I quickly show you this report?” “There’s this pain that won’t go, can you suggest something?” These are the questions he is faced with even at family events.

All such scenarios will undoubtedly make a doctor feel overwhelmed. In fact, a survey conducted by Medtalks, a doctor engagement platform, revealed that doctors are burdened by growing mental and emotional burden.

Also Read: Healthier Popcorn Alternatives You Can Try For Your July 4 Movie Nights

The survey, though small scale, conducted among 200 doctors across public and private health care, revealed an important issue. It found that 74% of respondents felt emotionally exhausted on a weekly or even on a daily basis. This survey also highlighted the depth of burnout and chronic stress in the medical profession.

Many doctors also agreed that even after their work hours, they were still entertained with questions related to their patients health through WhatsApp. The data revealed that over 83% of doctors felt that they were under constant stress as their patients continued to contact them through WhatsApp, phone calls, and digital messages, with many asking them for urgent queries. This round-the-check communication has blurred personal and professional boundaries, which has disassociated doctors from their own families.

Also Read: Measles Outbreak Update: Kentucky Confirms Its First Case

Looming Fear Of Threat And Violence On Doctors

The survey also found that threat and violence against doctors were a major source of stress and concern. Indian Medical Association (IMA) President, Dr Dilip Bhanushali, in an earlier interview with Health and Me had said, "Violence against doctors is not rare—it’s routine."

He further added: “We’ve seen mobs arrive with kerosene, petrol, even swords, burning down hospitals. There was a law during COVID promising seven years imprisonment and non-bailable warrants for attacks on doctors, but it hasn’t been enforced. Most states still have weak three-year, bailable punishments.”

He also pointed towards the RG Kar Medical College’s case where a female postgraduate trainee doctor was raped and murdered and her body was found in a seminar room on campus. Doctors across the nation went on a strike, demanding justice. “But we cannot go to the roads and do strikes every time. Despite it all, we uphold our Hippocratic oath.”

The survey too echoed the same feelings, where many respondents admitted that this fear has directly influenced their approach to diagnosis, communication, and decision-making. Doctors are now acting more defensively.

The strain on doctors is intensified by mounting administrative duties, fear of legal action, limited institutional support, and rising expectations to deliver flawless outcomes.

Over one-third of doctors reported working more than 60 hours a week, while only 17 percent are able to take a full, uninterrupted day off on a regular basis. Most respondents said they receive minimal support in coping with these demands. Strikingly, just 14 percent felt the current healthcare system allows them to prioritise their own wellbeing, whereas 52 percent said it does not.

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Later Dinners Are A Recipe For Disaster - Study Finds The Best Time To Eat Dinner For Health

Updated Jul 4, 2025 | 05:00 AM IST

SummaryRunning late on dinner sometimes may be fine, but what happens when you become a frequent late night diner? What is the best time to eat dinners?
Later Dinners Are A Recipe For Disaster - Study Finds The Best Time To Eat Dinner For Health

When it comes to dinner, many of us focus on what we eat, aiming for healthy and delicious food. But we often don't think about when we eat it, squeezing dinner in whenever our busy schedules allow. However, a growing amount of research suggests that when you eat can be just as important for your health as what you eat. And it seems that eating dinner earlier might be the way to go.

What's the Best Time for Dinner?

Scientists haven't found one single "perfect" dinner time, but it's generally best to avoid eating late for your metabolism. Try to finish dinner at least two hours before you go to bed, and ideally even longer. According to a 2024 study published in the JAMA Network Open, good goal is to eat dinner sometime between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Of course, life happens, and sometimes you'll have to eat later. If it's just occasionally, don't worry too much. Just try not to eat a very large meal right before bed. In fact, research suggests that dinner shouldn't be your biggest meal of the day, which is different from what many Americans are used to. Instead, try to eat most of your calories earlier in the day, around when you wake up or in the middle of the day.

Why Does When You Eat Dinner Matter?

Our bodies have internal "clocks" that manage how we function throughout the day. This means that the exact same meal can affect your body differently depending on the time you eat it.

For instance, one study found that when healthy young adults ate the same dinner at 10 p.m. instead of 6 p.m., their blood sugar levels went higher and their bodies processed fat less effectively. Late dinners can have this impact even if you're not eating right before bed.

One reason for this could be melatonin, a hormone your body releases at night to help you sleep. As melatonin levels rise, it seems to make it harder for your body to control blood sugar, leading to bigger and longer-lasting spikes after a late meal. Research also shows that eating dinner late can make you hungrier, cause your body to burn fewer calories, and even lead to changes in your body that promote fat gain.

How Late Dinners Affect Your Health

While many studies on meal timing are done in controlled lab settings, the findings suggest that regularly eating dinner late could increase your risk for health problems like type 2 diabetes and obesity. Many studies have already shown this connection. On the other hand, eating more of your calories earlier in the day seems to help with weight loss and improve signs of good metabolic health.

It's not just about metabolism either. Other research suggests that people who stop eating after 6 p.m. tend to get more sleep than those who eat until midnight. There's even a serious study from 2024 that links late eating to a higher risk of death. So, the general advice is clear: for most people, it's best to limit how much food you eat during the nighttime hours.

Tips for Eating Dinner Earlier

If you're used to eating late, changing your routine can be tough. To make the switch easier, start by making changes earlier in your day. If you often skip breakfast and grab a quick, small lunch, you'll likely be very hungry by evening. So, make sure you eat good, hearty meals earlier in the day that include plenty of protein, fiber, and healthy fats. This will help you feel less hungry at night.

Some people also find it helpful to set a specific "cut-off time" after which they stop eating, rather than just vaguely aiming for an earlier dinner. If you try this, it's okay to start small. Begin by closing the kitchen just 30 minutes before bedtime, then extend it to an hour, and so on. The key is to start where you are and build up gradually.

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