Euthanasia

Euthanasia is usually taken to mean ‘mercy killing’ and is applied to situations where a patient is suffering severely or is enduring a terminal illness. Euthanasia can more helpfully be defined as ‘the intentional killing by act or omission of a person whose life is felt to be not worth living.’

The arguments for Euthanasia:

1. We need it - the compassion argument. Supporters of euthanasia believe that allowing people to ‘die with dignity’ is kinder than forcing them to continue their lives with suffering.

2. We want it - the autonomy argument. Some believe that every patient has a right to choose when to die.

3. We can control it - the public policy argument. Proponents believe that euthanasia can be safely regulated be government legislation.

The counter arguments:

1. Alternative treatments are available, such as palliative care and hospices. We do not have to kill the patient to kill the symptoms.

2. There is no ‘right’ to be killed and there are real dangers of‘slippery slopes’. Opening the doors to voluntary euthanasia could lead to non-voluntary and involuntary euthanasia, by giving doctors the power to decide when a patient’s life is not worth living. In the Netherlands in 1990 around 1,000 patients were killed without their request. Also, the assumption that patients should have a right to die would impose on doctors a duty to kill, thus restricting the autonomy of the doctor.

3. We could never truly control it. Reports from the Netherlands, where euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide are legal, reveal that doctors do not always report it.

What does the Bible say?

Human life

Apart from the reference to the apparent ending of King Saul’s life at his own request by an Amalekite soldier in 2 Samuel 1, the Bible does not mention euthanasia specifically. However, it is clear that the Christian understanding of the value of human life leads away from euthanasia. We are made in the image of God so human life is uniquely precious (Genesis 1:26-27). Human life is also God’s gift to us; we are not the owners but rather stewards of it. The Bible also emphasises the‘preciousness’ and ‘sanctity’ of human life, and there are strong restrictions on the taking of life.

What can you do?

Write to your MP regarding the Assisted Dying for the Terminally Ill Bill and the issues of PAS (Physician-assisted suicide) and euthanasia. Any piece of legislation to legalise euthanasia or assisted suicide will have to get the consent of the majority of MPs to pass through the House of Commons, so your views are important in the debate.

Also check out Care’s website for further information at www.care.org.uk