[DISCLAIMER: MILD SPOILERS AHEAD!]

The long controversial topic has finally found its way to Korean dramas.

In “Doctor John,” Doctor Cha Yo-Han (Ji Sung) was imprisoned for euthanizing a patient, but he doesn’t see himself as a doctor who kills. Even when the law and the general public disagree with him, he firmly sees himself only as a doctor who relieves pain.

So, what are his thoughts on this sensitive topic?

Even at this moment, the patient feels pain.

A doctor’s job is to treat their patients’ pains. As long as the doctor doesn’t do anything to it, the patient doesn’t stop suffering from it. The pain continues, even while their doctors are sitting down and having a painless conversation.

Advancing your death to take your life away is different

Not everyone can go to Doctor Cha to get euthanasia done. He makes his own judgment on when one can undergo euthanasia. In which, he explains to a patient who wants to end his life when life becomes torture: “Advancing your death to make you feel at ease and advancing your death to take your life away is different.”

The patient was kept barely alive in the name of pain management

As Doctor Cha explains why he euthanized his patient, he talks about how he was only keeping the patient barely alive and in continuous pain because he was afraid of becoming the murderer.

It was the only legal thing to do.

He gave him painkillers until the patient was no longer in pain, reduced the dosage after to keep him alive, which made him suffer again. He continued to let the cycle repeat cruelly, all in the name of pain management. It’s an easier thing to do, but also painful to watch the patient suffer.

You solve the suffering, even if it results in death

Doctor Cha thinks euthanizing a patient isn’t about killing them to end their suffering or to stop them from suffering more. It’s about giving them a solution to their suffering.

It’s a crime for doctors to neglect a patient’s suffering

Like most countries in the world, South Korea makes it illegal for a doctor to kill a patient at will. But Doctor Cha thinks it’s also a crime to ignore a patient’s plea to end their pain.

It was torture

Keeping a terminally-ill patient barely alive by injecting nutrients and painkillers isn’t considered a treatment, but the process only tortures the patient.

 

In contrast, Prosecutor Son Seok-Ki (Lee Kyu-Hyung) sees him as a dangerous person.

He deems Doctor Cha as a murderer based on his firm belief. Doctor Cha’s firm stance is dangerous to him, because he puts it above the law and makes his own judgment between right and wrong. Spreading that belief, he thinks, makes things worse.

Do you have the same thoughts as Doctor Cha Yo-Han on euthanasia?

Both sides of the debate on euthanasia care about patients who are suffering and want to prevent that. But they worry about different things. The people who think euthanasia should not be legalized claim that legalizing euthanasia lets doctors wield too much power, or that it could lead to abuse.

As long as these problems don’t find solutions to them, it seems like both sides might never be able to agree with each other.

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5 Comments

  1. I am against Dr Cha because Dr Cha should have sent the patient to Oregan (America) where euthanasia is legal.

    First, we must note that patients have family and that those families will be devastated by on-the-spot euthanasia.

    Second, euthanasia should be done by doctors trained in it because they might consider things that Dr Cha had not considered.

  2. People who are misunderstanding about euthanasia might understand by this. I really appreciate this drama because we people from all over the countries are discussing and arguing about this while dr,John drama have a peculiar explaination, took a brave step and thanks for educating us .death is not the opposite of life but a part of it and it is not the lenth of life but depth of life

    • People who are misunderstanding about euthanasia might understand by this. I really appreciate this drama because we people from all over the countries are discussing and arguing about this while dr,John drama have a peculiar explaination, took a brave step and thanks for educating us .death is not the opposite of life but a part of it and it is not the lenth of life but depth of life

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