An Ahimsa Crisis: You Decide: Canadian Woman Refuses Animal-Ingredient And Tested Medicines

About twenty years ago, one Canadian lady (who was practicing Jain ahimsa) went to New Delhi where she was to get a prestigious award from a Jain group. Her host in New Delhi was a Jain family. The night she reached India, this lady developed severe chest pain and the host family immediately rushed her to a very famous heart hospital in New Delhi. There, she told the attending cardiologist (who also happened to be a Jain) that no matter how serious her condition might be - even if it was a life and death situation - she would not want the cardiologist to administer any animal-based medicines.

The cardiologist was absolutely stunned and remarked that over the years, he had attended on many Jains but she was the first one to make such a request. He was so impressed that he took her to Jaipur where he introduced her to his parents and also organized a community celebration for her. You see, there are people for whom ahimsa finds an important place in their lives.