If a good friend is riddled with cancer and only has months to live, in which he will suffer a lot despite all the morphine etc., why wouldn't you let him take a dignified departure by allowing him to euthanise himself (like the Netherlands and Switzerland do, two of the most civilised nations on earth).
What happened to Love, the most important "gift from God"? Oh I know, God only is allowed to take life but many have no problem executing criminals or carpet bombing iraqi villages. Double standards!!!???
2007-08-06 22:14:26 · 7 answers · asked by Thou Shalt Not Think 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I think it might have Catholic origins. I'm drawing a blank where it comes to a DIRECT reference to euthanasia in the bible.
There's "Thou shalt not commit murder".
If it's an assisted euthanasia, then I guess that's murder on the part of the assistant.
If it's self-administered euthanasia, then I guess that's murder too . . . self-murder.
But, without a specific reference to this special kind of death, I'm not sure anybody has any authority on the subject, except opinion.
The ethics of pain and suffering can challenge other cherished beliefs. For instance, I'm against abortion, on the grounds that the sanctity of human life is absolute and immutable. But in this case, the physical pain and suffering of somebody who is going to die soon anyway . . . makes me wonder if NO exception is truly reasonable.
In the case of abortion, I do allow exceptions when the mother's own life is at imminent threat. So, perhaps an exception for euthanasia is also rational. I just hate to step on that slippery slope.
A "living will", which spells out how you want life support (or not), can do a lot to uncomplicate certain lingering deaths.
:-)
2007-08-06 22:17:31 · answer #1 · answered by Seeker 6 · 3⤊ 1⤋
I think you will find that the dutch and the swiss are quite independent countries that are not being controlled by religion that I am aware of, I could be wrong, never been.
Because there is a fear of death and that people should postpone it for as long as they can, the idea of mourning is rediculous.
Why not let someone die with dignity and celebrate their life and accomplishments, what unfortunately sometimes happens is these people who make a failed attempt to euthanise (suicide) themself can end up worse off.
2007-08-07 05:23:38 · answer #2 · answered by Part-time Antagonist 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This is a complicated subject. One problem is that of controls. Most cases aren't going to be as clear cut as the one you outlined. Do you know that the Dutch euthanize children? I've heard half of those euthaized did not give their permission.
Another problem is that it discourages the development of pain medications, after all, death is the best pain reliever.
Still another problem is the pressures it puts on the terminally ill to die early in order to save money.
2007-08-07 05:39:20 · answer #3 · answered by Matthew T 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Suffering...it's all about the suffering. you can't be a "faithful" martyr without the suffering. Gotta be like the Christ in some way, if you can't be forgiving, empathetic or compassionate, we can always suffer.
2007-08-07 05:19:46 · answer #4 · answered by Always Curious 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
It gets even more fun when you consider that most of these "all life is sacred!" people are all in favor of the death penalty. Because that is "punishment".
2007-08-07 05:16:39 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 7⤊ 1⤋
Or starving women to death when their families want to feed them? When the American government forced a family to starve a helpless woman to death, I cried.
2007-08-07 05:18:21 · answer #6 · answered by Princess Picalilly 4 · 1⤊ 3⤋
you've dumbed down a controversial issue to stereotypes and immature name-calling, and irrelevant examples.
2007-08-07 05:20:17 · answer #7 · answered by WARRIOR 4 CHRIST 1 · 1⤊ 5⤋