Wise or not to spend on cancer treatment?

Dr Richard Smith, a former editor of the British Medical Journal (BMJ), has virtually exploded a bombshell by making a contentious claim. His suggests that it is wise to 'stop wasting billions trying to cure cancer'. Because, he thinks, 'it is the best way to die'. His argument is that cancer patients have enough time to say goodbye to their loved ones which may not be possible if they die from other conditions. Then Richard Smith, also the chair of the board of trustees of the ICDDR,B, further illustrates his point by adding the various other advantages such as the opportunity to reflect on life, leave messages, visit special places for one last time, listen to favourite pieces of music, read loved poems and prepare, according to a patients' belief, for meeting 'the maker' or enjoying the eternal oblivion.        

Sharp came responses from those who had to helplessly endure from close quarters the unbearable pains their near and dear ones had to go through before their eyes. Naturally they could not agree with Smith. Even the doctors who have to work with patients suffering intense pains because of certain types of cancer are the last to endorse any such 'naïve' view from one who has no practical experience of the disease.

In fact, the former editor of the BMJ has sought to make his points on the basis of personal experiences of surrealist filmmaker Luis Bunuel who wanted to die 'a slower death, one that's expected, that will allow me revisit my life for a last goodbye'. True, Bunuel got almost exactly what he wanted. But in answer to the question, what kind of death common people would prefer, most would perhaps make their preferences louder to the effect that they would opt for a sudden and painless one.

Smith's other argument in favour of not prolonging survival of cancer patients is very simple. He thinks that oncologists only lengthen the process through administration of costly medicine. Even if this is tenable, there are circumstances where such lengthening can help settle family and other matters but without treatment, their life can be terminated within a week or so. And there is, moreover, no strait-jacket for individuals or families nor are the types of cancer similar. Death after all is a certainty but how it affects families, societies and even the world at large matters.

It is for this practical reason, as against the romanticised view of death that few people are free from preoccupation with death. Most people, though, are afraid of the dark curtain that is certain to envelope each life. Yet there are some who romanticises death. Didn't Rabindranath write, 'Moronre tunhu momo Shyam saman'. To Radha, Shyam (Krishna) was the ultimate desirable one and death is replicating Shyam in that famous song composed by Rabindranath.

In the oriental philosophy, the love-hate relations with death have had a very important place in human life. But the occidental view is mostly marked by chivalry when it comes to the day life comes to an end. Yet each individual may have a preference for a particular type of death. But death does not comply with anyone's order or wish list, it has its own preferences.