Indian Journal of Medical Ethics

BOOK REVIEW

Reflections on dying

Reflections on· Freedom to choose · Dying with dignity · Voluntary euthanasiaDr. B. N. ColabawallaMumbai:

Society For The Right To Die With Dignity. 2001. 40 pages. Paperback. Rs. 40.00.

(Copies may be obtained from Dr. Colabawalla at A-3, Ben Nevis, Bhulabhai Desai Road, Mumbai 400026.)

Dr. Colabawalla is an urological surgeon of distinction who retired as a professor at the Grant Medical College and St. George Hospital, Mumbai. He later set up the department of urological surgery at the Jaslok Hospital and Research Centre. As part of his second career, he serves the Society For The Right To Die With Dignity and is currently its Chairperson.

He has dedicated this slim book to Mr. Minoo Masani. The late Mr. Masani's many qualities of the mind and heart are well known to many and the dedication reflects Dr. Colabawalla's admiration for him. As with Mr. Masani, so with Dr. Colabawalla - the spade is a spade and not an implement meant to turn the earth over.

The inside cover of the book provides an all-too-brief glimpse of some of the facets of Dr. Colabawalla's life and work. The prefatory note outlines the scope of the book and states the reason for addressing the Indian audience differently from those in the West.

Eight sections follow, ranging from perspectives on living and dying to Dr. Colabawalla's personal epilogue. These sections take the reader by the arm, gently but firmly, steering clear of ambiguity and lack of reason. The joy of living is emphasised, as is the inevitability of death. A distinction is made between measures taken to save life and those that merely prolong death. The tragic aspects of modern medical high technology have been highlighted.

Dr. Colabawalla provides the reader an understanding of his own reasoning and traces logically the means by which he has reached his own decisions on dying with dignity, the freedom to choose how he would like to die and when it may be necessary for the medical profession or others to help a person die.

There is no attempt at skirting delicate issues. Matters of philosophy and religion are treated with dignity and discussed without passion. The generation of light, not heat has been the motive in the production of this volume. I commend it. It will help you come to terms with issues not commonly discussed. It may help you overcome prejudice and open your mind to further thought. The interested reader may wish to obtain a copy of the eight-page booklet describing the need for us to write a living will. It provides a model will, which can be modified by the individual reader. It is available from the address noted above.

Sunil Pandya