There are many legal implications in Indian legal system which are binding on the life of every citizen. A citizen of India is not allowed to end life without any reason. Taking this one step ahead, is the thought of mercy killing. This relates to the idea that if a person who is living but in such a condition that the person is only alive and has no movement of the body and absolutely dependant on someone else, should be freed from the pain and agony of life. This is also done to free those who are tied up to that person.

Mercy killing is not just ending a person's life. It is about letting that person go and also letting the family members of that person free of the pain of seeing their dear one in such a miserable condition. There are quite a few points in such cases which need special attention. The first point is how much do the members who are close by love the person who is on bed. The people who are attached to such a person are really involved since they see the patient daily and serve the patient endlessly without tiring. This becomes a sort of not just duty but a devotion for that person who takes care of the patient. It becomes a motive to live on and keep up to each day. Be fit and keep smiling so that the patient keeps on getting the positivity, not the discourage. So that their touch passes on the energy to live on and pass on each day without thinking of the pain to self and the other who is taking care of them.

Sometimes this time of taking care is as long as about 22years when a wife takes care of her husband waking up at night to check if the bed is not wet or if he doesnt want water or every day bathing him. There are also examples of one nurse who has lost her sense and is bed-ridden since 37 years but the staff who used to work with her or the new ones who have joined in much later take honour in serving her at all times of the day and taking care of her needs like their own child. Such examples really inspire patients to fight all situations and live. But, at the end there is always a practical aspect to each of such cases. This aspect needs to considered and given a serious thought.

In all fairness, it is acceptable that the person lying on bed is either our father or mother or grand-parent who have been with us at all the time of our life through those times when we used to just cry when we were kid and did not think of letting us go. They had the patience to bear our crying and shouting and still loved us and through that love just made us grow so much that we think of letting them free of their life.

It is really not fair to think of such a thing. We can be mere watcher to the misery. The only way to end the misery is pray for the happy end to their life. Mercy killing is a way only to comfort ourselves that we have freed out our dear one from the agony.

Women also go through a phase of mid-life; the components of mid-life crisis in women are a little different.

 Menopause – this is an important part of a woman’s life when undergoes maximum stress.

1. Symptoms of menopause like hot flushes. Generalized weakness, boney pains and menstrual irregularities become common.
2. Emotional changes like depression are very common menopause
3. There is generally an increase in weight and change in appearance.
4. The enthusiasm levels and energy levels are generally low.

Menopause lasts for a variable period of time starting in some women as early as 40 years. The symptoms may last for 3 to 5 years.

 There are a lot of advances in medical field in treating menopausal manifestation in women.

This requires experts handling of the case.

 Sometimes women at this age require psychological counseling which is not something to be ashamed of.

Empty nest syndrome: this is the stage when the children move out of the family and only the parents are left behind; the nest full of birds is literally empty. This stage generally overlaps menopause in woman’s life. The combination can be quite difficult to handle. The woman misses her children and, at this time, may feel totally unwanted and a sense of worthlessness may ensure. At this time the support of a sympathetic spouse and friends and other family members has a lot of positive effect.

 It is entirely up to an individual whether he or she wants to make one’s mid-life a crisis, a change or a beautiful phase of one’s life.

 In mid-life it is good habit to see one’s doctor regularly least once in 6 months even if there are no definite health problems. This is because many of the diseases can be symptomatic and detected accidently.

 Those with known diseases have to see their doctors as and when advised by the doctors.

 Following the doctor’s advice is the most important thing. Following the life –style management discussed earlier is a must to prevent any dangerous consequence of wrong life styles.

 Special attention has been given to retirement in men and menopause and empty must syndrome in women. Regular visits to the doctor are the time and money spent on them

Indian culture has been the perfect way of living as well as of death since time immemorial. That is the reason for the consideration of the four ‘Ashramas’ viz. ‘Brahmacharya’, ‘Gihastha’, ‘Vanaprastha’ and ‘Sanyasa’ in life of every person. Lets look at the third one, ‘Vanaprashta’ Ashrama in brief.

Most people receive the gais of high post and social reputation in their young age itself, but after retirement thy feel as if they have been denied access to where they belong. Their siblings too develop feeling that they are a wasteful burden over them. At this stage, those people who have not saved money for their retirement, they feel even more troubles. Even those who receive pensions or any other insurance, they too don’t feel happy. The overall result is that the social status drops at this old age and all the relations are damaged.

All these problems can be solved through serving in this ‘Vanaprastha’ Ashrama. It is not inevitable, but only this appears to be the perfect way of living a happy life at this stage of life. After establishing oneself in it step-by-step, one should try to move out of he circumference of the family life. This Ashrama was established by Sage Vyasa and many others, keeping in view power, ability and experiences of the old age. That’s another reason why there is no fear or problem in entering this stage.

A person who has decided to move into this Ashrama should not speak about it to people. He or she should try to keep all the emotions an mind-work confined to mind itself  and should try to make distance from all relatives. One should stop attending marriages and similar processions. And one should prevent oneself from mixing with sons and siblings, one should try to spend as much time as possible, away from house and give a new direction to life.

Though I have not practiced it and I am not at an age to practice it, I believe in bliss of this stage, because it is a part of pure Indian culture, which has been the best ever.