Mercy killing: to be or not to be?

Dr. John Eze (not real name) is a medical doctor of sound repute. He has an unwavering belief in the sanctity of life and so abhors all forms of killings, including physician assisted suicide. But a day came, for the first time in his 23 years of medical practice, when he was caught between the devil and the deep blue sea.

He was leaving this hospital to attend to some off-clinic business when he saw a 57-year-old man being driven in, in a transport wheelchair. The man’s ghastly nude face was bony and criss-crossed with deep furrows. Varicose veins so thick that they could be used to wire the entire town in Abuja- the capital of Nigeria- encrusted his lean legs and hands. One could easily tell from his look that he had long been sick.

Dr. John had never seen this man in his hospital before, so he stopped to inquire what the matter was.

Jeremiah, as the man was later introduced to him, was involved in a ghastly car accident some six years ago which affected his spinal cord. After all medical intervention, he still could not use his arms and feet and is having difficulties controlling his bladder and bowel movement- which means he sometime pass urine and feces in his trousers. He was practically going through an unbearable pain.

On the second day following his admission in the hospital, Dr. John went to see him and met him in a more pensive mood.

“How are you, sir?”He said and felt his pulse.

The man nodded, cleared his throat and swallowed the phlegm. His face, lined with dried tears was as heavy as a stormy cloud. In a nano-second his tears began to pour down his cheeks anew, but no sound came out his mouth this time.

He starred at Dr. John through still-wet eyes and for a second the latter’s heart forgot how to beat.

“En...thish for...me,” the man stuttered, his body rocking in the bed.

 “Do...ctor...jus...keee me and ...en...my suff...ring”  he begged in tears.

Dr. John took his hands in his and shut his eyes as though evoking the spirit of God to heal him- but he was only broken.

Should he go ahead and grant this man his request? Advise Dr. John.