The ultimate sacrifice: LIFE

Pro-life, pro-choice, pro-capital punishment, anti-capital punishment, pro-euthanasia, anti-euthanasia, etc.

All of these revolve around the issue of life.  You could even throw in pro war/anti war issues too if you wanted to.  But I am really exploring the issue of euthanasia.  I heard a radio host talking about a guy named Garry Phebus.  Mr Phebus is a man from Georgia that wants to donate his organs-- now.  He has Lou Gehrig's disease.  This is a terminal illness.  Right now he is fairly healthy as far as the illness goes.  He cannot walk much and his vision is poor.  But his organs are in good condition.  All he wants to do is donate his organs now.  He knows he is dying and his life will only get worse.  He wants to have surgery to remove his organs and donate them.  This will kill him of course.

He talked it over with his family and wife who all understand what he wants to do.  No doctor will do it.  Only three states offer assisted suicide.  He is also looking into other countries that might do it.  Our current way of looking at this issue is that life is the most important issue and must be preserved even if the individual does not want to live. 

I must say that this shakes a few of my thoughts about life.  I work in health care and have seen people in suffering conditions.  You don't know how much pain you can feel when you are caring for someone who lays there dying.  The sound of their breathing.  There vacant look in their eyes.  The lack of movement.  Cleaning up any waste (there usually is none), swabbing and moistening their lips.    Death is hard to see.  Suffering is worse.

But should we help people die?  I am inclined to yes.  If you think about it this way, they have nothing much to live for except to make their family feel better.  The dementia patient that has no clue who they are or their own family.  They cannot talk.  They cannot comprehend.  The cancer patient whose organs are failed or failing.  The Lou Gehrig's patient who has nothing but suffering to look forward to.  If the only reason they continue living is to make their loved ones feel better, is that good enough.

This host believes that this guy should be allowed to donate his organs now.  I may not agree with every point he made but I have to consider one:  what about that person who needs a liver?  Are they not important?  If that person gets a liver, they will live a good quality life.  Garry will not if he lives. 

I am in fact, thinking that what he wants to do is more Christ like than what we all do.  It may just be the ultimate sacrifice.  What do you think?  Thoughts, comments?