Mercy killing, a procedure of terminating the life of terminally-ill patients by the decision of friends or relatives, is generating debates among Nigerians despite its acceptance in some parts of the world.
Euthanasia is usually carried out by a doctor on patients with irremediable medical conditions.
Even though there is a debate worldwide on the morality of this practice, mercy killing is gaining acceptance around the world because more countries are embracing the idea.
In countries like Belgium there is no age restriction for mercy killing, children with terminal illnesses are qualified for the procedure. In 2017, Australia finally passed a law favouring mercy killing after 50 failed attempts in 20 years. In France, only palliative sedation is used for mercy killing.
Relatively, mercy killing is an unfamiliar concept to Nigerians. However, assisted suicide was said to have been practiced in Nigeria by some ancient kingdoms and empires where kings committed suicide after defeat to save themselves from the humiliation that followed capture.
What the law says on mercy killing
It is a criminal offence in Nigeria to take the life of another person and mercy killing is not an exception to this general rule. Mrs Onajite Seidu, a legal practitioner told 21st CENTURY CHRONICLE in an interview.
She said Section 326 of the Criminal Code Act provides that: any person who aids another in killing himself is guilty of felony and is liable to imprisonment for life.
Subsections (1) and (2) of section 316 of the Criminal Code; also, sections 229 and 222 (5) of Criminal and Penal Codes, 1990, respectively.
The community reading of sections 220 and 221 of the and Penal Codes shows that any form of killing, (except one exempted under the Nigeria Law, which does not include euthanasia) attract deaths penalty under the Nigerian Law.
What obtains in Western countries
As of March 2021, euthanasia is legal in Western Australia, Canada, Luxembourg, Spain, Netherland, Colombia, Belgium, Switzerland, USA, France. The bill to legalise it in New Zealand is awaiting third reading.
Mercy killing against medical ethics
Dr. Hayatu Umar of the Department of Internal Medicine, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital Sokoto, said “it is against medical ethics to take the life of another person under any circumstance. It is a criminal offence.”
Concerns over mercy killing
Mr Oluwafemi Adedipe shared his perspective on mercy killing with 21st CENTURY CHRONICLE. “It is an extreme decision and I cannot think of any circumstance that justifies it. for now, thankfully, Nigeria’s laws criminalise the act.”
Mr Adedipe added that “if Nigeria enacts a law that permits mercy killing, in my opinion, the owner of the life must give incontrovertible consent, not given because of depression or any other emotional upheaval or a disturbed mental state or duress.”
He said the patient “should be an adult with legal consent. It must be done as the only alternative available and an improvement to the present condition of the person.”
He said the thin line between mercy killing and assisted suicide must be walked on with utmost care.
On whether or not the idea would be abused by relatives or interested parties, he pointed out that it is presently practiced as the unplugging of life support from patients.
“Since unplugging of life support is done under extremely strict circumstances, I believe that same caution will be applied if it becomes legal, to forestall the exploitation of it,” he said.
Another Nigerian, Mr Bala Samson, shared his experience nursing his terminally ill father with 21st CENTURY CHRONICLE: “My father’s ill health started suddenly. We went to 44 Army Hospital in Kaduna, a biopsy revealed that he had prostate cancer. The doctor said it was at an advanced stage and nothing could be done for him. He battled physical pains and mine was psychological trauma.”
He said throughout that period he “was helpless because at a point strong tranquilizer did not work. I cried by his side with him. But I never considered mercy killing. He died after two months of struggle and I believed he was comforted in pain knowing how much we love him.”
On her part, Hajia Sauda Bello, said her mother collapsed after taking local purgatives and have been bedridden. “We were in Okene General Hospital and subsequently discharged. She is unable to make use of her body. I wash and clean her stool and other waste. There are times I am very tired from work and taking care of my children. But I remember that she took care of me too and did it joyfully,” she said.
Hajiya Sauda said “I cannot consider taking her life! What is mercy killing? God forbid! She will die.”
Religious scholars speak
Religion has been a factor in mitigating against mercy killing in Nigeria, where 85 percent of the population are adherents of either Islam or Christianity.
The Chief Imam of Abuja Central Mosque, Professor Ibrahim Maqari told 21st CENTURY CHRONICLE by telephone that in instances of vegetation level, whereby there is no way you can revert a person back to life, such a person’s life can be taken but other than that, it is not permissible.
General Overseer, Word Alive Center International Gwarimpa, Revealed Godwin Abba, told 21st CENTURY CHRONICLE that there is no room for mercy killing in Christianity.
“This is a departure point for science and the Christian faith. Christianity is etched in miracles and even when a person is in a vegetative state, we do not give up hope in the miracle of God.
“Christians take queue from the servant of the Centurion who was revived from the point of death by Jesus Christ, the woman who saw blood for 12 years in the Book of Mark and was left to death, but was restored to full life by her faith that made her touch the garment of Jesus, believing it shall heal her. And Lazarus in the Book of John chapter 11 was restored to life after death.
“There is therefore no room in the bible for mercy killing.”
