According to the Catholic Church, (or your opinion) is it wrong to choose suicide as a means of avoiding suffe

Question

...ring?? Should one who assists in suicide be held responsible?? i mean they are in pain, and costing loads of money in the hospital when they are brain dead.... whats a person to do?

Answer 1

Yes.

As Christians, we believe that human life is a sacred gift from God to be cherished and respected because every human being is created in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26).

In heeding God’s command, "Thou shall not kill" (Exodus 20:13), we recognize that we cannot end of our lives or the lives of others as we please. We must respect and protect the dignity of human from the moment of conception to the moment of natural death.

Both euthanasia and assisted suicide violate God's commandment not to kill.

Euthanasia occurs when a doctor or medical staff person administers a lethal dose of medication with the intention of killing the patient.

Assisted suicide occurs when a doctor or medical staff person prescribes a lethal amount of medication with the intent of helping a person commit suicide. The patient then takes the dose or turns the switch.

We also recognize the need for the proper management of pain. Modern medicine provides effective treatments for pain that guarantees that no one will suffer a painful death. No one needs to escape pain by seeking death.

Suicidal wishes among the terminally ill are due to treatable depression similar to that of other suicidal people. If we address their pain, depression and other problems, then there is generally no more talk of suicide.

Repercussions of Assisted Suicide
+ The patient seriously, possibly completely, damages his or her relationship with God.
+ Anyone assisting a suicide gravely endangers his or her spiritual, psychological, and emotional well-being including family members and medical professionals.
+ Corruption of the medical profession: whose ethical code calls on physicians to serve life and never to kill. The American Medical Association, the American Nurses Association, the American Psychiatric Association, and dozens of other medical groups argue that the power to assist in taking patients’ lives is "a power that most health-care professionals do not want and could not control.”
+ Society will more and more disregards the dignity of human life.

Possible Corruptions
+ Exploitation of the marginalized: The poor, the elderly, minorities, those who lack health insurance would be the first to feel pressure to die.
+ Cost control: Patients with long term or expensive illnesses and considered economic liabilities would be encouraged die.
+ Rebirth of historical prejudices: Many able-bodied people, including some physicians, say they would "rather be dead than disabled." Such prejudices could easily lead families, physicians, and society to encourage death for people who are depressed and emotionally vulnerable as they adjust to life with a serious illness or disability.

Jesus uttered the words of faith that continue to inspire and to guide the Church’s teaching in this mystery of Christian death: "This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again" (John 10:17).

For more information, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church, sections 2270 and following: http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt3sect2chpt2art5.htm#2270
http://www.americancatholic.org/Newsletters/CU/ac0897.asp

With love in Christ.

Answer 2

The Church teaches that suicide is a grave sin - a violation of the commandment, "You shall not kill." Those who assist are also guilty. People are not obligated to keep loved ones alive artificially, like on a respirator, but if a person can live without mechanical assistance, they must be given food and water. It is not up to us whether an innocent person, including ourselves, lives or dies. That is up to God.

When a person is brain-dead, it usually means they can't live without mechanical assistance.

Suffering is part of life - everyone suffers in some way at some point. Who would be to say which suffering deserves to die? The mentally handicapped? Are they suffering enough to die? Alcoholics? People with depression? People who have lost a loves one? Arthritis? Unhappy marriages? That is why we leave it in God's hands and let Him decide.

Now the question of whether suicide can be forgiven is even more complicated. To be of right mind and willfully commit murder against oneself is a grave sin, and since it is a final act, there is no opportunity to repent and seek forgiveness. On the other hand, if a person is mentally ill, which many argue most people who commit suicide are, then they are not willfully killing themselves - the act is beyond thier control. We can only hope and believe that God has mercy on these.

If a person is enough in their right mind to ponder this, then suicide would probably be willfull, and therefore, sinful.

Answer 3

Yes, according to Catholic teaching, it is wrong to choose suicide to avoid suffering. We understand suffering to have a divine purpose.

Yes, somebody who assists in suicide will be held responsible by God.

The fact that a person is in pain is neither unexpected nor extraordinary. Many, many people are in constant pain. But as I said, we Catholics believe we can offer our sufferings, large and small to Christ and thus have a divine purpose to our pain.

I don't see what "costing loads of money" has anything to do with it. Catholics believe that human life is priceless and worth any amount of money.

A brain dead person is not suffering in the body any longer and cannot choose suicide. They are dead, and there isn't any rule in the Catholic Church that a dead person must needlessly be given medical care. The issue is, of course, proving that a person is brain dead.

In the case of Terri Schiavo, for example, she was said to have been in a "persistent vegetative state," a nebulous, de-humanizing term that is convenient for medical professionals but not trustworthy for any true Christian. Terri's brain had function -- if not, she would not have had wake/sleep cycles and she would not have responded to her family the way she did. Her husband got permission to starve her to death by claiming that the "core" of her brain wasn't functioning and that made her life "over" ("worthless," really). Terri was obviously NOT dying when her food and hydration were withdrawn from her; if she had been dying, she would have died in a few days without food or water. Instead, she suffered for 13 days, denied even the most basic comfort of nutrition and hydration -- and the loving embrace of her parents and siblings as she drew her final breath. She was legally made lower than a human in order to accomplish this, and the Church teaches that this is wrong, because ALL human life is valuable, even when the person is seriously disabled and only capable of receiving love, food and water.

Answer 4

Your question is problematic in the sense that someone could not simultaneously be in pain and brain dead. However there is a valuable point in your question. Although catholics cannot positively contribute to ending a life (murder) the can allow some more comforting alternatives if the death is the end of the actions.

For example , the use of morphine generally shortens life, but the goal is not to end life just to relieve suffering. Also one is not obligated to provide extra-ordinary means in sustaining life. I think the interesting aspect of this debate is that technology may change views of many that have a more pro-ending-life view of the elderly and the infirm.

Answer 5

I think that if an individual is brain dead then their "self" no longer exists, so without a mind could you really call that living? I believe it is the choice of the loved ones, and the individual who is in that position, if someone wants to pay all that money and care for that individual than so be it (the person who is brain dead wont know otherwise), but if that individual would not have wanted to continue on like that then their wishes should be respected. I think that if there is a higher power then "they" would understand the situation.

Answer 6

I take it that you are not talking about suicide in general; instead you are talking about physician-assisted suicide.

The sitation though, is where do we draw the line? A few decade s ago, we decided that it was okay to end the suffering of animals and put them to sleep when they are suffering. Now we are considering doing the same for human beings?

But here is the real issue. Now, we put animals to sleep for reasons such as overcrowding, unable to care for them, because the animal's expenses will cost too much, or that no one wants the animal.

What happens when we decide that we should treat humans the same way? It may sound fine when you are healthy and have health insurance?

But think about what happens if we allow euthanasia to be used as a way to eliminate those whose quality of life is not up to a certain level? Who gets to decide what that level will be.

That's why I'm opposed to the termination of life. Because once we start allowing ourselves to go down this slope, we start saying, "What about in this case" and then we let our standards continue to move downward.

Answer 7

The act of suicide is the sin of Judas Iscariot. It is one of pure pride, believing that one has the power over life and death (which only belongs to God). It is a mortal sin and means the person is choosing hell because they believe they can take God's power from Him. It is murder of oneself.

One who assists in such an act is as guilty as the one who did it. They are an accomplice to murder.

Pain and suffering are things to be cherished. They help us work off Purgatory time, help us save other souls with our sacrifices, and gain us higher places in heaven. Money is not important. God's Will must be done.

Answer 8

In the catolic church,yes I think so.In my eyes it is nit if you are suffering terribly or terminaly ill, brain dead and one that assits should Not be held responsible.

Answer 9

My opinion: euthanasia and suicide are a personal choice that should not be affected nor decided by any other person than the one choosing to die. That means no legislation, no religious right screaming, etc...

The family and the doctors should be aware of the persons wishes and abide by them.

Answer 10

IT'S OK IF YOU ARE AVOIDING GOING TO MASS AND I DON'T MEAN BOSTON.