The question whether it can be rational to die challenges our understanding of rationality and free will. From the perspective of a terminally ill person who cannot control his own body and apparently, cannot make decisions for himself, it is obvious that people around violate his rights. Although there are many encouraging stories about paralyzed people making success in different kinds of arts, occupations, or even sports, these cases are rather exceptions. While defending his own point of view, Ken Harrison compares his condition with that of a dying animal on the street. It cannot express its pain, it might either not consciously want to die, but killing is perceived as an act of mercy for us. Ken also blames doctors that they assume his “not so depressed” condition from what they see. In other words, they assume the person who does not seem to be suffering physically not to be suffering at all. They watch him die slowly, and they know that things will never change to him, and they still hope for a miracle.
From the opposite perspective, things are much more complicated. For those who love us, there is always a chance to make things better. Ken’s girlfriend was ready to share her life with him no matter what difficulties they are going to face. Most people would blame her for surrendering too easily, but she did it not because she was afraid of living with the disabled person. Ken persuaded her that her presence hurts him so much reminding of what he will not be able to do anymore. Nobody wants to hurt his loved ones, but sometimes, we feel helpless to change something.
As doctors were determined to preserve Ken’s life, he knew it was unreasonable to spend a great sum of money and people’s efforts for it. His speech at the court was so impressive and convincing, that even judge made a decision in his favor. Although Ken does not show any signs of clinical depression, and his decision is fully conscious, he decided to die because he could not find a convincing solution how to preserve independence in his deeds and thoughts. Although people around were trying their best to be friendly and caring, no one managed to suggest such a decision, to inspire him. That was required to really save his life. Without an inspiration, he might as well try to kill himself.
For a healthy person, it is hard to understand feelings of temporary ill, especially when those ill begin to realize what is happening to them. Imagine a person dying slowly from cancer or being informed that his (her) brains are inevitably damaged. Imagine someone with paralyzed body and only one eye moving. Imagine also, that these people are less lucky than Ken Harrison as there is no one around to take care of them. In my opinion, as soon as these people have the right not to be a burden for their family and friends, and we cannot realize how does it feel to live a life of a vegetable, they have a moral right to refuse treatment or “preservation.” On the other hand, people with depression and mental illnesses (those who can be cured) have their moral right to be “returned to life.” There is a strong border between a boy whose girlfriend betrayed him and an old man understanding that he becomes a burden for his own children. However, the legal border between them cannot be easily established. Each case deserves autonomous treatment. A person’s will, his (her) mental state, and the opinion of his (her) family must be taken into consideration.
- Bachman, L. P. (Producer), Badham, J. (Director). (1981). Whose life is it anyway? United States: Metro Golden Mayer.
