Explore euthanasia meaning and definition through a personal story, examining shifting perspectives on mercy killing and its implications.
Euthanasia: A Real-Life Story
Euthanasia: A Real-Life Story
Euthanasia, often referred to as “mercy killing,” is the practice of intentionally ending a person’s life to relieve unbearable suffering, especially when they are terminally ill or in extreme pain. The definition of euthanasia varies slightly by legal systems, but in general, it involves the deliberate act of ending a life, typically by a healthcare professional, to prevent further suffering. There are two primary forms: active euthanasia, where a person directly intervenes to end life, and passive euthanasia, which involves withdrawing life-sustaining treatments. The meaning of euthanasia for many is deeply tied to questions about compassion, autonomy, and the ethics of life and death.
My Changing Views on Euthanasia: A Personal Story
When I was younger, I couldn’t even fathom the idea of ending someone’s life, no matter how much they were suffering. Life, I believed, was sacred, and no one should have the power to decide when it ends. But as life unfolded, my views began to shift in ways I could never have anticipated. Let me start at the beginning.
My nan was like my best friend. She was fun-loving, warm, and kind, with a deep love for animals that we shared. Growing up, we did everything together—going on walks, holidays, and even the occasional night out when I got older. She was full of life, and her joy was contagious. However, as the years went on, I moved abroad for work and saw her less frequently, which was hard on both of us. We kept in touch through letters and phone calls, but I missed her dearly.
Then came the heartbreaking news: my nan had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer. My nan, the fighter, battled it head-on. Treatments, hospital stays, and a decline that was hard to witness followed. Over the years, she got progressively worse, shrinking to nearly 7 stone and becoming unrecognisable from the lively woman I knew. She had wounds that wouldn’t heal and pain that consumed her daily life, and there was nothing I could do. I was still in my 20s, trying to make sense of this suffering.
I vividly remember her saying, “Lisa, please end it,” through tears of pain. I didn’t know what to do. I felt powerless. All I could think was that if she were an animal, we would put her out of her misery. Why couldn’t we do the same for a human being? I carried this guilt for years, wondering if I should have done something, not even aware that euthanasia was an option in some parts of the world.
My nan’s death was a turning point for me, and for years afterward, I believed that euthanasia should be an option for people in extreme suffering. The emotional and physical toll it took on her and those of us who loved her seemed too great to justify letting life continue when there was no hope of recovery.
Euthanasia: A Real-Life Story
A New Perspective: Spiritual Insights and Changing Beliefs
Years later, after training in life coaching, NLP and healing practices, I found myself in a group that regularly discussed life, death, and the human experience. It was during one of these meetings that the topic of euthanasia came up again, this time through the story of my friend, Lady V.
Lady V’s husband, Peter, had terminal cancer. He was very clear with her: he didn’t want to prolong his suffering or put her through the pain of watching him deteriorate. But in his final moments, something unexpected happened. As Lady V whispered to him, encouraging him to let go, Peter, in a moment of surprising clarity, said, “Not yet. They are not ready.” It was as though he had some deeper knowledge about the timing of his passing. He was in bed, and 20 minutes had passed. Lady V whispered again, “Let go, Peter; you can go.” In a quite abrupt, stern voice, he replied, “It’s not time; they are not ready for me just yet.” Within minutes, he passed away peacefully.
Lady V, who came from Spain—a country where euthanasia is recognised—had always supported the idea. But this experience changed her. Peter’s last words made her realise that there might be something greater at work, a divine or spiritual timing that we, as humans, do not fully understand. His passing and the words he spoke made me question everything I had previously believed.
A case that Lady V heard about from a friend—a successful businessman battling terminal cancer—bore a similar experience. As his body began shutting down, though he couldn’t speak, he remained aware of everything happening around him. A GP advised to be careful about what they said, as he could hear it all. After he had been in the hospital for some time, the doctor came by during rounds and asked if he was okay. Moments later, he sat up and claimed to see “shiny people” surrounding him. This reinforced my growing belief that something beyond our control may be guiding life and death.
Finding Peace in Uncertainty – Euthanasia: A Real-Life Story
I leave you with this. When my nan passed, I was not in a good place—as you can imagine, losing a loved one—but I wanted her to go to end her pain and suffering. After she died (and believe me, I was in my 20s and not into spiritual things—I thought it was all a load of codswallop), my family, very much like Alf Garnett, weren’t the type to believe in that sort of thing. It rubbed off on me, and I didn’t believe either until this happened.
A few days later, I had been to work, and came home feeling so sad. It was just a normal day: work, TV, food, dog walk, etc. I went to bed—I hadn’t had a drink, that was for the weekends! I fell asleep, and in the early hours, I felt something sit on my bed. It woke me up, and when I looked to the end of my bed, it was my nan. She looked so well, just like she did before she got ill, and she smiled. In that moment, I was so scared; I hid under the covers and said, “Nan, go away!” I wish I hadn’t—I wish I’d spoken to her, but I was in my 20s, and it freaked me out. If she did it today, I would be okay with it.
This isn’t the first time something like this has happened to me, and I can’t explain it. Take a look at this next story about my dog, Link.
These stories, combined with my personal experiences, have led me to reconsider my stance on euthanasia. It’s easy to want to end someone’s suffering when you see them in pain, but who are we to make that decision? Perhaps life is borrowed, and there’s a reason we don’t control when it ends. While I still feel the agony of watching loved ones suffer, I now trust that there is a purpose to the timing of our deaths—something greater than our earthly understanding.
If you’ve had similar experiences or have a story to share, I encourage you to do so. Although witnessing a loved one’s pain is one of the hardest things we face in life, I’ve come to believe that there is a higher plan at work, and I’ve found comfort in trusting that we all have our time.
Euthanasia: A Real-Life Story – The images are for illustration purposes only.
