Does God approve of assisted suicide?

Question

Someone you love is suffering horribly from a progressive disease that causes chronic pain, physical and mental debilitation. They have just asked for your help to die. They want to overdose on their meds and to go quickly. They can't do it alone. They need someone's help. Are you brave and compassionate enough to help them cross over to the other side? Would God allow you or stop you from helping?

Answer 1

if we were asked .. should i put my dog down ? .. how many compassionate answers would we see ?
now i am in no way comparing a human life to a dog ( although i appreciate all life forms ) .. but isn't it strange how we would put an animal out of suffering and let another human suffer terribly ...
i wont answer your question .. but ill just leave that with you to think about
love to you xx

Answer 2

Several questions, here. So, I'll start with the first one.

Approve of assisted suicide? There is a part of God in each of us, the soul. I believe that part of God called the soul evaluates oneself after death. Both souls would determine the value of the decision in their life review/reflection. In some cases, it could be a compassionate decision while in others situations, maybe the person just wanted to die and wasn't suffering all that much, but the facts are misrepresented and an innocent is dragged in with their decision to live no more. The approval, therefore is between the two souls that are a part of the whole God. Sometimes, yes, sometimes, no. Either way, as tough as the decision is, it is for spiritual growth.

Am I brave and compassionate to help someone cross over? We can never really know what another goes through unless we are them. We can try to imagine, but we can't truly know. Therefore, without perfect information, I would choose to be there for that person as much as possible, but I would not assist in the suicide. As bad as suffering is...I actually think how you respond to the suffering is what matters. You can respond with love and grace or you can be rude and crude to those around you. Therefore, the suffering is not the issue, but how the person responds to it. If it's a brain disease, then obviously, the person suffering may not even have much control on their actions or words.....that's is an exception to this part of the response.

Would God allow or stop people from helping? God does not intervene in these cases. It's up to each person, free will.

Answer 3

Tough one. The State should not have the right to force a citizen to live in pain and agony if the individual does not want to. By forcing the continued existence, the State is in effect torturing the person. Of course, the State has determined that it has the right to impose its will and that no one can say otherwise, including God if s/he decides to speak up.

God's intercession will only occur after the event is done and nobody can predict what the intercession will be. As for the assistant, they are obliged to listen to the sufferer as well as their own conscience. Will the assistant be able to live with the fact for the rest of their life? If they disagree with the concept but love and pity the victim, what do they do?

If the decision is to go ahead and assist, better head for the Netherlands because the assistant will be charged with murder in North America.

If you can talk to a priest, do so. If not, there was a Star Trek, Next Generation episode which may help you with insight. Good Luck!

Answer 4

Couldn't it be that Providence brings a person to the brink of death as a wake up call for her to change her ideas? Even when a dying person has reach to what appears to be the last crisis, no one can absolutely be sure, that his or her final moment has arrived. Hasn't medicine ever been wrong in its predictions? Of course, there are cases that can be considered desperate with good reason. But even if there is no hope of a return to life and health, there always exists the possibility, witnessed on many occasions, of a sick person recovering, his or her faculties at the last instant.

The materialist, who only sees the body and doesn't consider the soul, isn't likely to understand these things. But the spirit-minded person who knows what happens in the afterlife, realizes the value of last thoughts. You should then, ease a person's terminal moments as much as you can. But guard against the temptation to shorten a life, even if only for a minute. This might be the healing minute that avoids many future tears.
---Saint Louis (Paris 1860)

Answer 5

Being a nurse, I believe in euthanasia. Only because I see so many people suffering every day from incurable diseases. But, I wouldn't do it because there are so many legal ramifications and because I would feel guilty for the rest of my life for taking the life of another, even if it was to their benefit.
In saying all that, the bible states that suicide and killing are wrong in all forms... A real moral dilemma.

Answer 6

The Christian bible is explicit about suicide (assisted or not).

1 Cor 10:23-24 with emphasis on verse 24.

God would not stop you from assisting in suicide, but would he approve?

Answer 7

Assisted suicide=Murder

Answer 8

Great question, you really got me thinking about it. I think I would help the beloved one to end his or her life because I believe I'd be doing him or her good instead of harm, although it may be totally illegal. As for God, I believe that He can understand why I did it as He sees how painful my beloved one was. He would understand, forgive, AND heal.

Answer 9

No. Only God has a right to make a life or to take a life.

Answer 10

As much as I might want to due to the love I feel for this person, I could never do it. It would feel like murder to me. GOD's being in my life, a big part of it, wouldn't allow me to do that.......