Jain Journal 1978 04

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 43

SANTHARA
(Mercy Killing)
DR. J. C. BAID, M.s.
‘Santhārā' means to end the life by avoiding to take anything by mouth, i.e. even water, so that within few days gross dehydration occurs and death ensures. When it becomes fact that a person cannot prolong his or her life because of incurable diseases like cancer, malignant
ertension, cerebrovascular accidents; Santhārā or mercy killing is imperative. If such a person carry on his life with intractable pain, and as the condition deteriorates further many bacteria start multiplying in the body due to secondary infection, with the result killing thousands of lives more. Of course social and economical aspect are also associated with it. In such a situation Jaina religion provides a descent way to end the life peacefully by obtaining 'Packhän (a word from religious text) from a Jaina monk. Thus relatives and people around the patient know about the outcome and try to adjust themselves to the forthcoming result. In this way they can sustain the shock smilingly. This is the concept of Santhārā in Jaina religion. The idea in publishing this paper is that what we are thinking in the 20th century, was described in the days of Lord Mahavira, i.e. 2500 years ago. This proves that Jaina ieligion and its concepts are based on scientific facts. Therefore late Sri Santivijayji, a Jaina monk from Abu Hills rightly said :
jahān vijñānkā sarvocca śikhar hai vahan hamare jñānki talkati hai
The following discussion will make it clear to a lay man the importance of Santhārā.
“Is it medically advisable and humanly desirable to end the life of a patient suffering from a fatal and incuiable diseases?" was the subject of discussion among the young doctors sitting in the duty room. Probably the idea came from young doctor who was going to the ward, informed his colleagues that the patient was at the moribund stage. Many a doctors have been faced with this question, and recently it has come up with a great force in many countries.