[Buddha-l] Religion and aggressive treatment

[jkirk]

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/18/health/research/18faith.html?pa
rtner=rss&emc=rss

What is the Buddhist position on this, you think?

W.F. Wong
=====================

Hi Weng Fai,

As in the article, " study by Dr. Silvestri in 2003 found that
while cancer patients listed their oncologist's recommendation as
the most influential factor affecting their decisions about
medical care, their faith in God was the second-most-influential
factor, ranking higher than the recommendations of their family
doctors, their spouses and children, and even information about
whether treatment would cure the disease."

Perhaps they keep expecting/hoping that God will save them? I
doubt if the reason brought earlier in the article about the
faithfuls'  so-called "respect for life" has anything to do with
it. 

I also doubt if there is "a" Buddhist "position" on prolonging
life near the end at enormous expense to society and travail for
the people involved in their care, both professionals and kin. 

However, one does recall that although Ven. Buddhadasa had stated
that he wanted no life-prolonging medical equipment, and some of
the doctors attending had also stressed this point, nevertheless
after a stroke that put him in a coma he was attached (in
hospital) to a respirator on 27 May 1993, was administered
various aggressive medical procedures, and was still on the
respirator on 8 July. Then, when the doctors finally said his
death was imminent, his devotees decided to return him (from a
Bangkok hospital) to his retreat Suan Mokh, where he was put in
his bed. He died shortly after. 
(See, Jackson, Peter A. _Buddhadasa : Theravada Buddhism and
Modernist Reform in Thailand_. ChaingMai, Silkworm Books, 2004;
Epilogue, p.275.)

Ajahn Cha toward (but not near) the end of his life, had a stroke
that ruined his brain; he survived being cared for at his wat for
at least seven years (I couldn't find his death date), during
which Paul Breiter says that doctors said his organs were all
functioning except his brain. At least he wasn't being subjected
to aggressive medical procedures. 
(See, Breiter, Paul. _Venerable Father : A Life with Ajahn
Cha_.NY: Paraview, 2004.)

Joanna