Corona Crisis and Human Dignity

Dr Shakti rues that Coronavirus patients are not being treated gracefully, with dignity, violating their basic human rights. An exclusive for Different Truths.

In modern times, we have been giving a lot of focus on human rights and human dignity. And we have tried to ensure in every possible way that all human beings can live with basic human dignity, enjoying their fundamental rights, freedom, justice and self-respect. We believe that we can’t make people’s life miserable by the cruel practices and draconian laws superimposed by the powers that be. We commit to it that people live their lives gracefully. And when we say ‘living gracefully’ we also imply ‘dying gracefully’. We can’t perpetrate insult or humiliation to a person who is on his/her deathbed.

And when we say ‘living gracefully’ we also imply ‘dying gracefully’. We can’t perpetrate insult or humiliation to a person who is on his/her deathbed.

This reflection occurred to me when I learnt from certain (un)reliable sources in the social media that a lot many Corona patients in China were being shot dead instantly in order to expedite their exit from this world. They were considered potential carriers of Coronavirus. It was also heard that there was mass disposal of dead bodies. They never allowed the corpses to be taken away by the relatives or family members. In this way, the Corona patients were not allowed to live or die gracefully. My question is – what right does anyone have to decide another person’s fate or journey in this life or hereafter, whether one lives with Coronavirus or without it?

Whether these reports coming from China were true or not is not material to me because I am not writing a news report. I am just pondering and reflecting upon this situation philosophically and existentially, especially with reference to our Indian spiritual tradition. In our country, they may not be shooting or killing the Coronavirus patients. But this much is certain by now that they are not being treated with respect and dignity in hospitals, isolation wards and quarantine centres, or even on the roads while on their way to hospitals or villages (for migrant labourers).

What is most alarming is the fact that family members are not allowed to look after or even see their loved ones in hospitals on the pretext of possible infection, whereas the doctors, nurses, compounders and sweepers, who are looking after them are also human beings.

What is most alarming is the fact that family members are not allowed to look after or even see their loved ones in hospitals on the pretext of possible infection, whereas the doctors, nurses, compounders and sweepers, who are looking after them are also human beings. If they can attend to them with the protective accessories, why can’t the family members too, by maintaining proper distance, as they do when they go to Intensive Care Units and Critical Care Centers in the case of other general diseases? There also we aren’t allowed the physical contact with the patient. I don’t know what others might think, but this is simply unimaginable and incomprehensible to me, especially with reference to the human rights standards and humanitarian virtues upheld by us in the modern civilised world.

Why can’t this offer be made to the family members that they can look after in hospitals or even convert one of their own rooms, if they wish so, as an isolation centre, where strict instructions can be followed and no outside movement can take place without permission. Even police personnel may be deployed to ensure these restrictions. This will save the government from botheration and expenses both. And if keeping in hospitals is necessary, all the basic standards of human dignity must be observed.

Similarly, we are told that the dead bodies of Corona patients are not being given to family members. This also is awful and extremely deplorable, especially when the family members want it. If we cannot save a life, why can we not facilitate the departure of the soul in a humanitarian way?

Similarly, we are told that the dead bodies of Corona patients are not being given to family members. This also is awful and extremely deplorable, especially when the family members want it. If we cannot save a life, why can we not facilitate the departure of the soul in a humanitarian way? Why the departed soul cannot be bidden farewell ceremoniously in a dignified and graceful manner? The government has already decided that during the lockdown, not more than 20 persons can be allowed in a funeral procession. That same number and the same restrictions may also be imposed in the case of Corona patients’ death. Another restriction can be of using the electric crematorium for speedier disposal of the corpses. And the attendants (especially those touching the body) may be given full protection kit, as the employees are given, who are being assigned these duties. There can be restrictions that the sealed dead bodies would not be opened.

What I very strongly feel is the fact that since we have not been able to invent a medicine or cure of Corona so far and the patients get cured on the basis of his personal immunity and internal resistance only, we can at least find ways and means to handle the patients delicately, which will strengthen his/her immunity, and in case he/she has to lose a life, his passing away is made more smooth, acceptable, dignified and graceful. We must develop a system for this.

…the Corona positive patients are also likely to be a regular feature in our society. We should devise ways so that they can live with dignity as long as they live, and then they can die gracefully, departing from this world in the presence of their near and dear ones

We should bear in mind that the Corona pandemic is going to last longer than we can assume. We may have to live with Coronavirus in the times to come. We have already started thinking about making social distancing a way of life, making mask compulsory for everyone, regular use of sanitizer and all that. Thus, Corona positive patients are also likely to be a regular feature in our society. We should devise ways so that they can live with dignity as long as they live, and then they can die gracefully, departing from this world in the presence of their near and dear ones as they do in the case of their non-corona brethren.

We must keep in mind that we belong to an Indian spiritual tradition, where life and death are treated equally. We know it very well that the soul is immortal, while the body is not. Even our scriptures teach us not to be very much attached to the body and be prepared to renounce it when the time comes. We believe that the human soul keeps changing the body and, therefore, we have faith in rebirth. All those immersed in Indian spiritual tradition do not cling to the body and renounce it happily when the time comes. Therefore, death is not a cruel thing for us. What may be cruel is the manner in which we treat the person on his/her deathbed. We must find ways and means to deal with the Corona patients more humanly and with dignity so that he/she can live and die gracefully.

Photo from the Internet