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Are Azerbaijanis ready for euthanasia?

15 October 2015 11:50 (UTC+04:00)
Are Azerbaijanis ready for euthanasia?

By Amina Nazarli

Euthanasia is considered an extremely controversial medical practice in many countries.

Recently, California Governor Jerry Brown signed legislation to allow terminally ill patients take their own lives, making California the fifth American state after Washington, Montana, Vermont and Oregon to allow the practice.

In accordance with the law, for a positive decision two doctors have to approve that the patient has less than six months to live, and he/she is of sound mind and clear memory.

Euthanasia, also known as mercy killing, allows for an easy, painless death that comes as a result of a certain series of actions by the patient or others acting solely at the request of patient.

The reason why euthanasia has both supporters and opponents is that some refer to the issue from a medical point of view – considering it from the point of humanity – because it applies only to the terminally ill dying in prolonged and excruciating pain. Others are convinced that no one has the right to facilitate his/her own death, and it is up only to the Almighty to decide when to take a person out of this world.

In Azerbaijan, conducting euthanasia with consent of the patient or his relatives is prohibited and in 2012 this was reinforced in the "Rights of Patient" law.

The Head of the Human Rights Centre of Azerbaijan, Eldar Zeynalov, told local media that the refusal of euthanasia by the relatives of a patient, in his view, is not a violation of human rights. He believes that the right to life is universal, but not to death and only the state has this right.

Medical expert Adil Geybulla says that if this issue ever makes it on the agenda in the country, it should be put to a referendum. He believes, this should not be the decision of one ministry or agency and all of society must take responsibility for such a decision.

Their opponent, oncologist Rena Guliyeva, however claimed that during her twenty years of medical practice, she has seen many deaths from cancer.

“Unfortunately, some forms of cancer are still incurable. Moreover, if the disease is detected at a later stage, the doctors are not able to help the patient. The patient slowly and painfully is robbed of life, experiencing inhuman suffering. Even potent analgesics do not help ease the pain,” she said. “In my experience, in many cases, such patients pleaded that it end.”

“In our country, euthanasia is banned,” the oncologist noted. “But after seeing the suffering of dying people, I muse about its legalization.”

And while supporters of euthanasia look for ways to ease the pains of the patient, this method may raise a number of issues and problems. Legalization of euthanasia could gradually lead to abuse, and voluntary euthanasia can quickly escalate into involuntary killing.

For instance, some people will make decisions under pressure from their relatives, who may seek to receive an inheritance, or what is more, some doctors themselves may use euthanasia for their own purposes, such as the transplanting organs for remuneration, or to conceal negligent treatment.

Azerbaijan is a country with a majority Muslim population, and therefore euthanasia, which is deemed suicide, is condemned by the religion and is considered a great sin according to religious figures, even if a person experiences unbearable suffering and asks people to help him die. The person who fulfills the desire of the patien, also commits a great sin.

In fact, no one wants to die. Some researches show that even those who commit suicide may regret their decision in the final moment. People innately have survival instincts and reflexes, so in any dangerous situation we want to survive, in spite of everything.

Psychologist Dayanat Rzayev, for his part, does not believe that Azerbaijanis are ready for euthanasia.

Even if Azerbaijan allows euthanasia and special clinics will be set up, nobody will appeal to them.

“If someone agrees to euthanasia, his/her family will not allow it. Usually, relatives of a patient who is at death’s door call for a doctor to at least a little to prolong his/her life. We, Azerbaijanis, do not want to part with loved ones to the last moment,” he explained.

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Amina Nazarli is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz

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