Many individuals lose the meaning of life due to extreme pain. They utter despairing words like, "I'd rather die," and cases of choosing dignified death are on the rise. In moments of suffering and hardship, what thoughts lead them to such a decision? In this post, we will discuss pain and dignified death.

Extreme Pain, With No End in Sight

One patient said, "I can't sleep at night. I keep dozing off during the day only to be woken by pain." Pain transcends mere physical suffering, bringing with it mental anguish. For those experiencing such extreme pain, even painkillers often prove ineffective. Ultimately, they arrive at the decision to end their own lives.

Those Who Choose Dignified Death

The number of patients choosing assisted dignified death in Korea is steadily increasing. Recently, a man in his 60s attempted to travel abroad for assisted dignified death but abandoned the plan due to his family's persuasion. He was suffering from extreme pain due to a rare disease, which led him to contemplate this extreme choice. Healthy individuals find it difficult to comprehend their suffering. Those who haven't experienced such pain can never truly understand their feelings.

Dignified Death and the Legal Reality in Korea

In Korea, assisted dignified death is not legally permitted. The Act on Hospice, Palliative Care, and the Preservation of Life Sustaining Treatments for Patients Near the End of Life, implemented in 2018, allows patients to discontinue life-sustaining treatments with their own or their family's consent. However, it lacks specific provisions for pain relief. In contrast, countries like Switzerland and the Netherlands legally recognize assisted dignified death. In these nations, patients can choose dignified death by self-administering medication with the assistance of medical professionals.

Are There No Ways to Reduce Pain?

What are the methods to ensure terminally ill cancer patients do not experience pain? There is a desperate need for patient-centered care, rather than hospital-centered treatment. Advances in palliative care are necessary, and through these, we must find ways to help patients live dignified lives without suffering. Many patients around us contemplate death due to extreme pain. It is time to understand their feelings and seek better solutions.

Ultimately, we must all find ways to reduce suffering and live dignified lives. There is a need for legal methods to eliminate pain, and it is a time for society as a whole to contemplate this issue together.