Free Nelson Mandela!

God only knows why the authorities in South Africa are keeping 94-year-old Nelson Mandela alive - by the artificial means of a visit to Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

In days gone by the kind of persistent chest infection that the former President has been suffering from in recent months was called 'the old person's friend' - because it allowed very poorly and elderly people to slip away without suffering terribly - as their lives came to an end.

Yet in the case of Nelson Mandela he remains a celebrity figure right to the bitter end - as ambitious politicians and rival family members seek to boost their own profiles and sense of self-importance - by being seen to visit his dying bedside.

Which is shameful in my book because it seems pretty clear that Nelson Mandela is suffering from dementia as well as his physical ailments - and I cannot believe that such a proud and dignified man would want to be treated in this way, as a kind of trophy figure.

Before Alzheimer's Disease robbed my mother of the ability to make such decisions for herself - we spoke about what to do and my mum made it very clear that she did not want medical intervention to keep her alive - when her life was really come to an end.

My mother wanted to be treated with respect and dignity and that's what happened when my mum last went into hospital - because the doctors were told very firmly that she was not for resuscitation, if the worst came to the worst. 

So, I hope the great man's doctors and family come to their senses because, once  again, in the words of the famous song it's time to - Free Nelson Mandela!  

And here's a YouTube link to that famous battle cry for freedom.

http://youtu.be/8pNWS2XfyLQ