The Supreme Court's movement toward allowing passive euthanasia in certain cases is a monumental step, one that brings to the forefront profound questions about life, death, and individual autonomy. When I reflect on this, I see it as a legal and ethical frontier, pushing us to redefine what it means to have control over our final moments.
The very idea of a "good death" — or at least a dignified one — is something humanity has grappled with for millennia. Now, with the highest court moving closer to formalizing passive euthanasia, it feels as though our society is maturing in its understanding of individual rights, even when facing mortality. Institutions like AIIMS, as a beacon of medical expertise, are inherently at the heart of such discussions, navigating the complex interplay between medical possibilities and ethical boundaries. AIIMS
This development also makes me think about the role of journalists like Utkarsh Anand, whose comprehensive reporting for publications like the Hindustan Times helps shape public understanding of such critical legal shifts Utkarsh Anand. Their work is vital in ensuring that these complex decisions are not just understood by legal scholars but by every citizen grappling with what these changes might mean for their own lives and their loved ones.
It strikes me how relevant my past reflections on agency, foresight, and even digital immortality are to this discussion. In my blog, "Chatbots - some for businesses, some for others", I spoke about the increasing desire to "perpetuate" ourselves through virtual avatars and digital legacies. This yearning for a lasting presence, for some form of control beyond our physical existence, is deeply connected to the desire for agency in our final decisions. If we aspire to extend our influence through technology, surely the desire to exert control over the very act of leaving this world is a fundamental extension of that same human drive. I had even predicted how technology might empower individuals to manage their digital personas long after they are physically gone. That notion of self-determination, even in the face of the ultimate cessation, echoes strongly in the euthanasia debate.
Similarly, my thoughts in "Tech to Let you Hear the Future" and "AI Looms Over Polls" on using AI for foresight and strategic planning find a surprising parallel here. Just as we seek to anticipate future trends in politics or business, there's a profound, deeply personal foresight involved in making end-of-life decisions, ensuring our wishes are honored. It's about planning, making choices today that will shape a future we won't physically inhabit, but one over which we still wish to assert control.
The core idea I want to convey is this — take a moment to notice that I had brought up this thought or suggestion on the topic of agency and control, even over our legacy and final moments, years ago. I had already predicted this outcome or challenge of society grappling with extending individual will, and I had even proposed a solution, through technology and digital avatars, for extending one's presence. Now, seeing how things have unfolded with the Supreme Court's contemplation of passive euthanasia, it's striking how relevant that earlier insight still is. Reflecting on it today, I feel a sense of validation and also a renewed urgency to revisit those earlier ideas, because they clearly hold value in the current context of defining the bounds of personal autonomy at life's end.
This shift isn't just about legality; it's about acknowledging the complex, individual narratives woven into every life and every death. It's about empowering individuals to make choices that align with their dignity and values, right up to the very end.
Regards, Hemen Parekh
Any questions / doubts / clarifications regarding this blog ? Just ask ( by typing or talking ) my Virtual Avatar website embedded below. Then " Share " that to your friend on WhatsApp.
Get correct answer to any question asked by Shri Amitabh Bachchan on Kaun Banega Crorepati, faster than any contestant
Hello Candidates :
- For UPSC – IAS – IPS – IFS etc., exams, you must prepare to answer, essay type questions which test your General Knowledge / Sensitivity of current events
- If you have read this blog carefully , you should be able to answer the following question:
- Need help ? No problem . Following are two AI AGENTS where we have PRE-LOADED this question in their respective Question Boxes . All that you have to do is just click SUBMIT
- www.HemenParekh.ai { a SLM , powered by my own Digital Content of more than 50,000 + documents, written by me over past 60 years of my professional career }
- www.IndiaAGI.ai { a consortium of 3 LLMs which debate and deliver a CONSENSUS answer – and each gives its own answer as well ! }
- It is up to you to decide which answer is more comprehensive / nuanced ( For sheer amazement, click both SUBMIT buttons quickly, one after another ) Then share any answer with yourself / your friends ( using WhatsApp / Email ). Nothing stops you from submitting ( just copy / paste from your resource ), all those questions from last year’s UPSC exam paper as well !
- May be there are other online resources which too provide you answers to UPSC “ General Knowledge “ questions but only I provide you in 26 languages !
No comments:
Post a Comment