Aruna Shanbaug leaves us with many questions
On 18th May 2015, Aruna Shanbaug left us. Brutally raped and strangled at the age of 25 by a hospital attendant, Aruna Shanbaug had a vegetative existence for 42 years more. The fact that she lived might seem at one glance to be a victory for medical science, but if so, it was a victory of empty, heartless science.
Her assailant walked out of prison after seven years, a free man. Aruna Shanbaug continued her life of rigorous imprisonment in the hospital, the height of which is obvious when we are told that she died on a ventilator. Today, as she leaves us, we still do not have a law covering end-of-life decisions or covering withdrawal of life support. Medical science is confused, not having bothered to study the issue at depth, leaving the judiciary also confused, making them believe that withdrawal of artificial life support is a form of euthanasia.
Her life for the last 42 years would have forced us into action if our society had a conscience. Rest in peace, Aruna.
Comments are closed.
