Death Tourism

Being in Tourism Studies for years, though not a lot, I have how tourism comes in numerous form. You name it – Wine Tourism, Gourmet Tourism, Eco-Tourism, Space Tourism, Volunteerism, Music Tourism, Sex Tourism so on and so forth. But amazingly, I chanced upon a very unique form of tourism, but definitely not one that a person would want. We have heard of Medical Tourism, on how people travel all over the world to seek medical help, for example, a terminally ill patient travelling to the States to try and find a cure. But allow me to share a special form of tourism, ‘Death Tourism’.

This term may be new to many, but in actual fact, I’m sure some have heard of it before. Death Tourism in this case means a person travelling outside of his or her country to other country to seek suicide, assisted suicide. For example, I was reading the news on this particular guy who was a rugby player. Due to an accident, he was paralysed and it has caused tremendous suffering to himself as a result of it. He then flew from London (his home) to Zurich, Switzerland to get an organization there to perform Euthanasia (the practice of ending a life in a manner which relieves pain and suffering). He was 23 years old when he died.

Such practice is illegal in most countries, Singapore included. It’s of no wonder why it is illegal in most countries. Assisted suicide is a complicated issue in overseas. Euthanasia to me, should only be performed when it is under the will of the logical-minded person. It should only be decided by the person himself or herself. But in such incident, there are cases where one can’t speak due to certain imparity to his or her body. It’s a tricky process I feel. Yet I feel so much for those who had to make that decision.

I put myself in that shoes but I feel I wouldn’t even have the courage to think about it. Knowing you are going to die. How does that feel. Knowing your life is going to end. It doesn’t seem normal at all. Yet, I can terribly feel some victims are left with literally no choice at all. When pain conquers it all, perhaps it’s really time to say goodbye to the world. Perhaps when all hopes are gone, it’s time to end the suffering. No matter what, there is always a 50-50 perception on such. I personally feel it should be legal under very strict conditions because there bound to be people out there who requires it, but it would be going against human nature of 生老病死. As I type, I feel a terrible ache. Such decision is left with no return. What if that person decides to change his or her mind, all because he rather endure the pain and still see his or her loved ones?

Aside to that, I wonder what lethal poison did they use on those who decided to opt for assisted suicide. And for those who assisted the suicide, doesn’t that make them murderer somehow, indirectly? Oh, I feel a whirlpool of contradiction. Really, what is this world coming to?