Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: HEALTH (10/13/16)
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TITLE: The New Normal | Previous Challenge Entry
By Gary Ritter
10/17/16 -
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The door handle turned. Dr. Mason entered holding a notebook computer. He ignored her until he’d set it in place and clicked through a number of keystrokes and touchpad motions. Eventually he acknowledged her. “Janet. How are you today?”
“In more pain, Doctor. I’m worried. What have you discovered?”
The doctor’s lips tightened. He made more entries and turned the computer around for Janet to see. “I’m afraid it’s not good. See here and here?” He pointed to masses of dark spots on the image before her. “You have Stage 4 cancer, and it’s metastasizing.”
Janet blinked hard. Cancer had always been a fear because both her mother and sister had died from it. Somehow, though, she’d believed it would bypass her. “Is it treatable?”
His body swayed back and forth before he answered. “Technically, yes. We could irradiate it and subject you to chemotherapy. Perhaps we could extend your life another year.”
“Otherwise, how long do I have?”
“Four to six months. Maybe less.”
“I wasn’t expecting this. It’s a lot to take in. What do you recommend, Dr. Mason?”
He examined the screen several more minutes, maneuvering and clicking, entering data, and pondering with his knuckles tapping his chin. “Perhaps you’re aware of the recent bill signed into law about medical practitioners? No? It’s quite liberating. I’m now allowed to ask you a question and help you with an intervention from which I was previously prohibited.”
A surge of hope ran through Janet’s chest. “Yes? What is it?”
“Do you wish to be euthanized?”
She wasn’t sure she’d heard him correctly. “Excuse me?” He started drumming his foot. Was he irritated with her?
“I said, ‘Do you wish to be euthanized?’ It’s a simple enough question. I can now perform the procedure here in the office. It will prevent you from having to undergo expensive, discomforting, and ultimately useless treatments.”
Janet didn’t know what to say. “I have to think about it.”
“Of course. Don’t take too long. We both have a duty in this new world of increased medical and insurance costs. Mine is that I recommend the most prudent course of treatment. Your duty is one to society so that you don’t consume scarce resources. In this case, you have a duty to die.”
When she arrived home she saw that her brother-in-law, Don, was there visiting her husband, Jim. Before she’d taken three steps inside she broke down, great sobs erupting from deep within her. Jim hurried to her side and helped her to a chair. After a period where she couldn’t get a word out, she managed to let them know what the doctor had said.
Jim hugged her. “That’s terrible!” Indignant, he rose to pace the room.
Don came over and held Janet’s hand. “Look, I’ve been there with Cathy. She went downhill despite the awful radiation and chemo they did to her. It was horrible. For her and me. You know that. Spare yourself and Jim. You don’t know what a blessing that would be to both of you.”
Janet attended church that Sunday and asked for prayer. Conflicted, not sure of the right decision to make, she stayed at the altar long after the service. She sobbed and told the pastor, “I don’t want to be a burden to Jim, the healthcare system, or to the Lord.”
“Lay it before Him,” Pastor Long replied. “He’ll guide you to do the right thing in His eyes.”
Jim spoke life and encouraged her as they talked, but she spent many nights awake crying out to the Father, not coming to a decision. Through everything God was silent.
Finally, she decided to follow the doctor’s advice for the good of all. She came to her appointment having said her goodbyes She left Jim at home unaware, not able to face his pain of loss.
Dr. Mason congratulated her choice and prepared the procedure. She lay on the padded examination table, a vein ready. He came with the needle and—
She sat up. “Wait! God just spoke to me. He wants to heal me through prayer alone.”
“How foolish.”
The doctor plunged the needle into her arm.
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So chilling, but with a ring of truth.
The ending surprised me.