Advance Medical Directive

There has been discussion on the Strait Times on the issue of Advance Medical Directive (AMD), Euthanasia, and assisted suicide. In the recent years, taking care of our parents has been an issue faced by a number of our friends. One friend's mother is at the final stages of cancer which originated in the gum, he moved her to his house and his wife took care of her every need. Another friend's mother is in coma after a massive stroke. She is on life support in a nursing home. Living in a different state, he and his siblings took turn to visit. Another friend's father is suffering from a severe case of emphysema, and has been going in and out of hospital for the past 12 months. Lucky for him, he has 6 sisters, they all chip in to help with the care. Another friend's father is having lung cancer that's spreading to the brain and he is asking his wife to quit her job to take care of him. Another friend's father is on dialysis and need help with breathing, the father has substantial saving so he is in an elite nursing home with 24 hours private nurse caring for him. Two friends' parents are suffering from colorectal cancer. The list can go on and on, it's depressing sometime. There is no question, we should be prepared for this. It is an unpleasant interruption to one's life. The financial and emotional toll is high on the family.

While assisted suicide and euthanasia is wrong, how about AMD? Certainly, I don't want to be a burden to my children, but who are we to be the decision maker in what is to be part of life's lesson. Adversities and difficulties is God's way perfecting us, euthanasia and AMD may get in the way of God's plan.

This blog by Lorri Curto tells a story how God works in mysterious ways.