Arafat’s vital organs functioning

CBC News: Arafat’s vital organs functioning, foreign minister says
But what about his brain. Not meaning to be insensative, but couldn’t he just be a potato? If you take someone off life support and they die isn’t that because it’s the natural time for them to pass away.

I’m not sure if any of this is the case or not with Mr Arafat, but this kind of thing always brings back that question of whether or not euthanasia for humans should be allowed. It’s been a part of my consciousness for a long time as my dad, a veterinarian, had to put many animals down over the years. He was very strongly opinionated for euthanasia in humans as well as animals. Part of his arguement was that we will relieve an animal’s suffering but not that of a human being’s (even if they want it). Crusaders like Jack Kevorkian (who was convicted of assisting suicides) and members of the Hemlock Society are constantly running into trouble for doing what they believe gives the dying their dignity. I’m not sure I disagree with them at all.

I do, however, understand that Arafat is not just some old man that only his family will miss. He is leader of the Palestinian people and his death could throw the already unstable Middle East into complete chaos. This said, is keeping one man alive to avoid turmoil for others ethically appropriate even though that man is a figurehead such as Arafat is? Where is Mr Arafat’s dignity? He can’t answer for himself.

I wonder if he has a living will. Perhaps this is his will.

Interesting stuff to ponder.