Abstract

SELVARAJ, Francis Jude. Transhumanism and improving quality of life in the elderly: How could it shape the future of pain and suffering in the elderly?. Med. ética [online]. 2024, vol.35, n.1, pp.61-107.  Epub Mar 30, 2024. ISSN 2594-2166.  https://doi.org/10.36105/mye.2024v35n1.02.

It is postulated by 2050, the world population of the elderly, 60 years and above, will peak at about 20% of the total global population and it is expected that the plethora of age-related issues will be a strain at every stratum of life and radically change health-care policies from individual to national levels. Besides the financial, social, and health implications, published data has also emphasized a lack of religious affiliations in the older to oldest age groups, therefore potentially, causing this segment of the population to become unconstraint by religious philosophy and teachings on improved technologies to alleviate pain and suffering.

This first part of the article evaluates various aspects of how the religious practices traditionally view suffering and pain, as seen through the lens of the three monotheistic religions-Judaism, Christianity, Islam as well and Buddhism.

Next, we explore what values and experiences religion brings to the elderly in navigating pain and suffering and how intricately bound they are to the doctrines and teachings. We also look at the gaps in the current treatment patterns that could affect the access of the geriatric population to choose newer modalities, if feasible.

Subsequently, this paper explored how transhumanism in the advancement of technology and being unaffiliated to any religion may cause a seismic change in elderly people’s pain perspectives and sufferings, and how this potentially could change the face of gerontology.

Keywords : faith; aging; pain; suffering; religious beliefs; transhumanism; technology; quality of life; QoL.

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