In search of dignity

Two hallowed heads strived for a legal edge, Heard the case—but the horse still trailed the cart, Took time to ponder— head over the heart, Spirit of law bowed still to letters' rage. Sympathized with the plea and not yet still: ‘We allow a passive mercy killing, One active we can't'— the unfair sibling, And final word shall be Chair's pondered will. Fair words always are worth a goodly wait, Wise words take much slower walk to arrive, A tune many a white wig love to drive At, mercy must wait for her date with fate. Yet, passive killing scarce can be mercy, It's too cruel, heartless as inhuman, It adds, rather than allay patient's pain, Pity, the justice can't quite that way see. Murder in mind, red handed if one's caught, Proved and punished, he might hanged be till dead As our legal revenge that be red-hot, But mercy killing's sin—murder in bed. And look at words of wisdom from the Chair: Her friend cannot closeness to victim claim, Few visits make no friends, wise words as were, Poor she, made to carry the cross called blame! Poor Mercy, in court room ever decried, Reducing life as breathing of bare breath, Justice triumphed— life prevailed over death, Much before she, her dignity had died. Poor patient condemned— to live bare but bone, To live what was no life, nor ever death, In a state much maligned, in twilight zone, And Lady Justice lost had all of faith. ______________________________ Happenings | 04.03.2011, revised October 2024 | The Supreme Court Bench deliberated on the petition by a sympathetic heart for mercy killing of a nurse in Hospital, a victim wronged by a hospital hand. The much-awaited verdict on euthanasia is now out: The court may allow passive killing case by case; but active killing is a strict no, no. And yet, active seems so much kind and humane to the patient, whilst passive killing is like torturing the patient slowly, and seems somewhat cruel. In this petition, head has triumphed over heart. Life that is no life has triumphed over death. And dignity has died. Read also, ‘And the death lingers (11.02.2011) '.