Many people lose the meaning of life due to extreme pain. They utter desperate words like, "I'd rather die," and cases of choosing euthanasia are increasing. In moments of pain and hardship, what kind of thoughts led them to make that decision? In this post, we will discuss pain and euthanasia.

Extreme Pain, With No End in Sight

One patient said, "I can't sleep at night. I keep dozing off during the day and waking up in pain." Pain goes beyond mere physical suffering and involves mental anguish as well. People experiencing such extreme pain often find that even painkillers are ineffective. Ultimately, they decide to end their lives on their own terms.

Those Who Choose Euthanasia

The number of patients choosing assisted euthanasia in Korea is gradually increasing. Recently, a man in his 60s intended to travel abroad for assisted euthanasia but gave up due to his family's persuasion. He was suffering from extreme pain due to a rare disease, which led him to consider this extreme choice. Healthy individuals find it difficult to understand their suffering. Those who haven't experienced such pain can never truly know how it feels.

Euthanasia and the Legal Reality in Korea

Assisted euthanasia is not legally permitted in Korea. The Act on Hospice, Palliative Care, and the Decision of Life-Sustaining Treatment, implemented in 2018, allows patients to discontinue life-sustaining treatment with their own or their family's consent, but it lacks specific measures for pain relief. In contrast, some countries like Switzerland and the Netherlands legally recognize assisted euthanasia. In these countries, patients can choose euthanasia by administering medication themselves with the help of medical professionals.

Are There No Ways to Reduce Pain?

What are the methods to ensure terminally ill cancer patients do not feel pain? Patient-centered care, rather than hospital-centered treatment, is desperately needed. Advancements in palliative care are necessary to help patients live dignified lives without suffering. There are many patients around us who 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 time for society as a whole to contemplate this issue together.