以同理心傾聽要輕生的阿扁總統

以同理心傾聽要輕生的阿扁總統

Listening to President Chen giving his will

陳總統民間醫療小組成員 陳順勝 (Prof. Chen Shuen-Shen)

Translated by Professor Jay Tu

在我的網頁，我不喜歡談政治，因為那不是我的專業。寫這篇文章，不得不引述，因為昨天去探望阿扁，他很喜歡談政治，特別是過去已經公開的政治。昨天我的神經學診察包被擋不准帶入，我的一個小時「探監」，就作神經行為學觀察，特別是語言、認知與情感表達。加上我除了神內專科醫師外，也有精神科專科執照，所以我應用會談技巧，引導阿扁的情緒宣洩。

阿扁總統夾雜着斷續的結巴，數說他的心情，以政治的語言表達他對台灣的擔心，以及過去他的政黨的高度期望與失落感。我可以以同理心理解他行將步入老年人的落寞，即使不在獄中，都會很難過。那份對台灣的愛與他政治夥伴的高度期待，令我動容。

President Chen, while stuttering badly, told me and other visitors his thoughts. I could tell from his words his devotion to Taiwan, his expectation to his fellow DPP members, and his unmistakable disappointments.

台灣主權獨立建國之路坎坷，從蔣氏父子的「中華民國」，到李登輝總統改稱呼為「中華民國在台灣」。陳水扁總統上台三部曲，首先主張「台灣就是中華民國」；而後詮釋「台灣不是中國」，到中國與美國都不爽的「台灣中國一邊一國」。

He points out that it is a very tough mission to achieve Taiwan Independence. Chiang and his son imposed "Republic of China" over Taiwan, Lee called it "Republic of China ON TAIWAN", while President Chen took three steps, starting with "Taiwan is Republic of China", then "Taiwan is NOT China", and then the final step, "Taiwan and China are two Different Countries Across the Strait." His last step angered both China and the US.

更重要的兩件事是「廢除國統綱領」，以及「以台灣名義加入世界衛生組織與聯合國」，還訴諸于公投。這更激怒美國、中國與深藍族群，種下他被政治迫害的源頭。

The actual actions he took to abolish "National Unification Policy" and to seek "UN and WTO Memberships in names of Taiwan", made the US, China, and deep blue people enraged, leading to his current imprisonment.

他認為台灣要主權獨立建國，非常困難與坎坷。如果成功需要十分，也許他任內八年完成三、四分。為了台灣，後續的人應該繼續去完成。讓他傷心的是後繼無力，整個黨甚至於候選人，已選擇區隔不再談論這議題。深陷牢獄遙遙無期，他對台灣與自己覺得無望無助，難怪悲從中來。

He knew that he could not achieve Taiwan Independence during his terms but he would like to build a foundation and a momentum, so that his successors could continue to push and to complete it. However, he is disappointed and saddened that DPP and its presidential candidates all abandoned it and chose to steer clear of it. He worries about the future of Taiwan and understands the hopeless situation of his, both driving him into deep depression.

一再蒙受冤屈的總統，要我們瞭解他在重鬱狀態下輕生的動機。我有幸聽到，我應該讓台灣人瞭解與覺醒，所以我寫這篇文章。昨天尤美女立委、陳隆志教授、黃先生、中監的人都在場，還有他們的錄音，一位想輕生的台灣人總統，其言也善。

As a psychiatric doctor, I was able to listen to him, a wrongfully accused and imprisoned former President, to know first-hand why he attempted suicide. This is why I wrote this report so that Taiwanese will understand him and be inspired. All other visitors heard the same statement as I reported here. The prison authority also recorded the whole conversation.

談起台灣政治與前途，他結巴中滔滔不絕，激動處嚴重口吃與劇烈的右手抖動。為了提醒其他人不要忘了他生病了，我應用會談技巧把話題轉到食慾吃東西，他說支持者送進來的飯全都吃了。我請他告訴我們中午吃什麼菜？他回答，這種生活上的記憶我都丟了。我心中泛起一陣心酸，陳總統您自己這樣了，為何還用自己的意志力，心掛著台灣與我認為很不值得的入黨！當然我會支持他，那是尊重他的自主權，醫療上治療他的一部分！

When he was discussing Taiwan's future and politics, he kept on talking even though he was stuttering badly and his right hand was trembling uncontrollably. When the topic turned to his illness and his appetite, he told us that he ate everything sent to him by the supporters (Note that there is a group of supporters who deliver daily meals to him and maintain a daily journal on the web.) When we asked him what he ate for lunch, he replied that he did not bother to remember these daily trivia because he had better use for his badly reduced memory capacity. I was saddened upon hearing this. I wonder why he would still care so much about Taiwan when he is in such a bad shape.

昭姿註: 陳順勝教授6月4日探視總統所寫，我們認為這是在表達心願交代後事。真正讓總統輕生的理由，而不是我所以為的那些低層次的事。

2013-06-05

Note: After reading this article, Janice Chen, the leader of the volunteer medical team, believes that President Chen is giving us his will because he knows that he could die any time. Now we know the real reason behind his suicide attempt, not due to those minor issues announced by Ministry of Justice.

June 5, 2013