Despite the Evening Standard and
other newspapers making waves over the rise in the popularity of erotic
literature this week, my blog is not actually about Fifty Shades of Grey. Although, as I have made reference to it, I
will say that I don’t understand what all the fuss is about!
Erotic literature has been around
for eons. If you wish to Wikipedia the topic you will see that the interest in
this type of literature dates all the way back to Ancient Greece and Ancient
Rome.
The only thing I find slightly
fascinating about the whole “re-vamp” or “re-popularisation” of the genre is
that it seems to have flowed from the publication of Fifty Shades of Grey, which I have yet to find a good review of. It
seems that a blend of poorly written prose combined with a storyline that lifts
heavily from teenage fiction (Twilight and the characters of Edward Cullen and
Bella Swann) doesn’t do much for the critics – I can’t imagine why!
Yet as I say, the subject of erotic literature and Fifty Shades of Grey is not what this
blog is about. In The Telegraph on
Friday I came across this article; Woman
who wants to die must be force-fed. The article is about the decision that
has just been made regarding the life of an un-named 32 year old woman who
suffers from anorexia.
From here on in, everything that I am likely to write is
bound to be marred in some form of controversy and that is because this subject
is sure to bring highly conflicting opinions.
My personal opinion on this case and article is that I
don’t think that the right decision was made. Yet I must underlie this
statement by saying that given the complexities of anorexia – which is so much
more than just a physical illness, I appreciate that what a person wishes when
suffering with this illness must often be ignored.
I do not therefore condone that every person suffering from
anorexia who would rather die than be force-fed should be allowed to. In my
opinion that would be nonsensical, and it would seem that in the vast majority
of these cases that is the illness or disease of anorexia talking and these
sufferers / patients should be treated by professionals and given a chance to
get their lives back and learn to try and see the line between their own sense of
mortality and that of the dark demon of “Ana”.
The reason I feel so differently in regards to the woman in
The Telegraph article is because of
all of the facts that surround both her illness and her desire not to be
force-fed.
It is reported that she was physically abused between the
ages of 4 and 12, and then began suffering from eating disorders. At 15 she was
admitted to an adolescent eating disorder unit for treatment. The woman is now 32
and according to her barrister and family is completely aware of the decision
she is making in regards to her own life, and in fact twice last year signed
forms to say that she did not wish to be treated. In addition, at this point it
is reported that she would be required to be force-fed for at least a year and
at the end of this time she would still only have a 20% chance of survival. Her
family are reported as saying that they wish to support her decision to refuse
treatment.
Whether this case is completely unique or not, I do not
know. I do know though that this topic and this type of case will never be a
black and white subject.
I truly feel for the family and the woman, and I cannot
agree with the decision that has been made by the judge. I accept that his must
have been a horrendous job, and that whatever the outcome he would have had his
critics and his advocates. Yet to my mind, this woman has suffered enough.
Force-feeding someone takes away their control, and will to
my mind only cause further fear and pain to a woman who one can only assume is
already deeply emotionally and physically scarred. When terminally ill patients
no longer wish to accept treatments, such as chemotherapy for cancer patients, they
make choices to refuse further treatment. It is a decision that they must make,
and only they can know the rationale behind their decisions and I cannot see
the difference in regards to this 32 year old woman.
I can already hear the cries as I type of “it is different!”
But is it I ask back? Yes a terminal patient faces death anyway, but doesn’t
this woman? A 20% chance of survival is not high, and I think it is probably
clear that her will to live is much less than that. Should that not also be
factored in here? Is it really fair to impose a year of force-feeding on her,
because there is a belief that she will survive the year and at some point in
the future she will be able to control her demons??
As I say, this is not a black and white subject and the
area of grey seems to have no boundary here. So I will conclude by saying that
surely if she is considered to be of sound mind, and her family are not against
her wishes, this is a personal decision.
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