Why can’t these so-called advocates of “life” understand that if a citizen has the right to choose who governs him, he has also the right to choose how he wishes to live as long as his choices do not infringe on anyboby else’s rights or freedom? Can’t they see that there is a difference between “ending life” and ‘letting life end”?

Would they like to linger on in torture, when every moment is a fight against wracking pain, without respite for days on end, and their pleas to be put out of their misery remain just silent ,unheard screams in the wilderness of spurious ethics?

If they have any sense of self worth or self respect, would they feel no pang knowing that immense costs are involved in keeping them hanging on to mere life when these resources could be utilised more meaningfully and productively?

And, what about the family? If there are legalised medical options available to let them make informed choices that are human and practical, they would feel less guilty about opting for a saner and more compassionate option like palliative care.

Palliative care should be made a “fundamental right” for any citizen in any country where the “right to life” is a fundamental right. In a situation where the patient is in no state to make an informed choice, the proxy right should be made available to the care-givers/ family.

Life is no life when there is no dignity; when it cannot be “lived”. “Living” matters more than just “being alive”.