Chinmaya IAS Academy – Current Affairs Chinmaya IAS Academy – Current Affairs
- A petition has been filed in the Delhi High Court to stop a person, who has been suffering from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome since 2014, from travelling to Europe to undergo a physician-assisted euthanasia.
- It is a serious and debilitating disease that affects the nervous system, the immune system and the body’s production of energy.
- It is also known as “Myalgic Encephalomyelitis”.
- Its potential results are viral or bacterial infection, hormonal imbalances and genetic predispositions.
- It can affect anyone, from children to adults of all ages.
Symptoms:
- Significantly lowered ability to do activities that were performed before the illness.
- At least 6 months (or longer) of debilitating fatigue that is more severe than everyday feelings of tiredness.
- Most recognizable symptom is Post-Exertional Malaise (PEM).
- A “crash” in physical/mental energy following even minor activities like grocery shopping or brushing teeth.
- Trouble sleeping, difficulty in thinking, memory retention and concentration, dizziness/light-headedness, headaches, muscle pain, joint ache, flu-like symptoms, tender lymph nodes and digestive issues.
Treatment:
- There is no specific test for the disease, and doctors have to rely on medical examinations, blood and urine tests.
- Doctors have recommended ways to deal with the symptoms of the disease like “Pacing” in which patients learn to balance rest and activity to prevent crashes caused by exertion.
Euthanasia
Euthanasia is the practice of ending the life of a patient to limit the patient’s suffering. The patient in question would typically be terminally ill or experiencing great pain and suffering.
Types:
Active euthanasia:
Killing a patient by active means, for example, injecting a patient with a lethal dose of a drug. Sometimes called “aggressive” euthanasia.
Passive euthanasia:
Intentionally letting a patient die by withholding artificial life support.
Voluntary euthanasia:
With the consent of the patient.
Involuntary euthanasia:
Without the consent of the patient, for example, if the patient is unconscious and his or her wishes are unknown.
SOURCE: THE HINDU,THE ECONOMIC TIMES,MINT
