Saraswathy kept hearing the puffing and hissing sounds at regular intervals. She was feeling really tired. Each breath, it seemed, took more effort than the previous one. She wanted to tell someone, but she could not speak. She could not even move her limbs. When she looked around, the whole surrounding felt alien to her. Everything smelt of antiseptic. Only then did she realize she was in a hospital ICU connected to a ventilator. But she could not remember why she was there.
Outside, in the ICU waiting room a confrontation was going on in between Saraswathy's sons. The elder one, Vinod, was the one who housed and looked after his mother. He was a retired businessman with children of his own and a wife who had several health problems. The younger one, Vikram, lived abroad with his family but was struggling to make ends meet. The argument was about their mother who lay confused inside the ICU. The doctors had just informed the sons about the fragile condition of their mother. She had fallen from the bed a few days back and had suffered a hip fracture. She had undergone surgery to repair the hip but due to pulmonary embolism had not been able to breathe on her own and hence been connected to the ventilator. The sons had listened in silence when the ICU physician had recounted her best chances of survival. There was a chance she could be weaned of the ventilator in a few days. But it was not a sure thing. Meanwhile the ICU bed was tearing a hole in Vinod's pocket. Each day in the ICU meant he was poorer by Rs.15000 and he could not afford that for long.
Vikram, who was more closer to his mother, felt helpless as he could not help monetarily but did not want the support systems to be switched off without being absolutely sure that nothing more could be done. He kept saying "Amma will not let go so easily. She is a fighter!", which only angered Vinod more. He loved his mother too but was not so sure about her chances. He had another problem. His wife was pressurizing him saying she could not look after his mother if she was bedridden. If she had to she might fall sick herself. Vinod was stuck between his mother and his wife.
Finally, after 3 sleepless nights and waiting and watching their mother's condition, Vinod and his wife won out. The support systems came off and Saraswathy gave up without a fight.
Vinod performed all her last rites without missing any detail. All their relatives were called for the wake and no expense was spared. The only person unhappy was Vikram who kept feeling that had this money been spent on her health, their mother might be alive now.
Do we have any right to take this decision? The doctors who are more informed and educated about our health than us hesitate to have the final say in this matter. How can we lay people pull the so called plug on our dear ones lives?
Outside, in the ICU waiting room a confrontation was going on in between Saraswathy's sons. The elder one, Vinod, was the one who housed and looked after his mother. He was a retired businessman with children of his own and a wife who had several health problems. The younger one, Vikram, lived abroad with his family but was struggling to make ends meet. The argument was about their mother who lay confused inside the ICU. The doctors had just informed the sons about the fragile condition of their mother. She had fallen from the bed a few days back and had suffered a hip fracture. She had undergone surgery to repair the hip but due to pulmonary embolism had not been able to breathe on her own and hence been connected to the ventilator. The sons had listened in silence when the ICU physician had recounted her best chances of survival. There was a chance she could be weaned of the ventilator in a few days. But it was not a sure thing. Meanwhile the ICU bed was tearing a hole in Vinod's pocket. Each day in the ICU meant he was poorer by Rs.15000 and he could not afford that for long.
Vikram, who was more closer to his mother, felt helpless as he could not help monetarily but did not want the support systems to be switched off without being absolutely sure that nothing more could be done. He kept saying "Amma will not let go so easily. She is a fighter!", which only angered Vinod more. He loved his mother too but was not so sure about her chances. He had another problem. His wife was pressurizing him saying she could not look after his mother if she was bedridden. If she had to she might fall sick herself. Vinod was stuck between his mother and his wife.
Finally, after 3 sleepless nights and waiting and watching their mother's condition, Vinod and his wife won out. The support systems came off and Saraswathy gave up without a fight.
Vinod performed all her last rites without missing any detail. All their relatives were called for the wake and no expense was spared. The only person unhappy was Vikram who kept feeling that had this money been spent on her health, their mother might be alive now.
Do we have any right to take this decision? The doctors who are more informed and educated about our health than us hesitate to have the final say in this matter. How can we lay people pull the so called plug on our dear ones lives?
Well written, moving actually.
ReplyDeleteIts definitely a dilemma.Horrible situation created by monetary constraints & misplaced priorities. I liked it.
This is the power of money that I respect and why one should acquire it & retain it, for it gives one choices in life.
I relate to your question about, who are we to pull the plug. I can also relate to the feelings of the sons - one practical and one emotional but helpless. Good stuff! Well written. The story unfurled in my mind in few short sentences.
ReplyDeleteTo answer your question about euthnesia;I can share my experience. I went through traumatic times when faced with a similar situation with my dad. My mom and I, supported by the family, were running from pillar to post in hope that we will find cure for his condition. He, too was hopeful and made efforts to see the results of the varied medication. Yet, towards the end I willed the Almighty to end his misery. I prayed to Him to ease off his pain before taking him. In a way, I willed his death due my own incapability of seeing him suffer. The doctors had given us a clarity of his condition and left the choice open to us. Yet, they respected our wish to see him cared for and made his passing away as painless as possible.
Its a tough decision between holding on to the loved one and easing the pain that he/she is enduring!
Thank you both for reading and commenting. I felt it was a feeble attempt at writing but if you feel its well written, who am I to argue? ;-)
ReplyDeleteI am sorry about your father Gauri, I read Kaustubh's post dedicated to him. Sometimes, by wishing them a peaceful end, we do them and ourselves a big favour. Have witnessed several situations like this myself in my family. Its always tough for the family.