Different Christian Views Surrounding Euthanasia - Essay Example

In ancient Greek, the term eu thanatos meant ‘easy death.’ Today various synonyms like ‘mercy killing’ and ‘physician-assisted suicide’ are associated with this term. It amounts to voluntary ending of life of someone who suffers from terminal disease. Euthanasia can be active or passive. When a physician takes an action to induce death using morphine or insulin, it is known as active (also known as direct) euthanasia. Passive euthanasia (or indirect) on the other hand is to withdraw treatment and allow the patient to die. Euthanasia can be voluntary, non-voluntary, (when the patient requests to be killed) or involuntary. Non-voluntary euthanasia occurs when it is performed without the patient’s consent or when someone else gives the consent. Involuntary euthanasia is to put patients to death and involves infants born with defects or the elderly people. The principle behind this sort of death is that ‘they have a life not worthy of life’, which was devised during the Nazi Regime in Germany when the state authorized the killing of the aged, mentally ill, and the handicapped. The definitions of euthanasia vary and this itself leads to controversy. Hemel (2005) quotes the Webster defining euthanasia as "the act or practice of killing or permitting the death of hopelessly sick or injured individuals (as persons or domestic animals) in a relatively painless way for reasons of mercy." The American Heritage College Dictionary, plainly states that euthanasia is "the act culture practice of ending the life of an individual suffering from a terminal illness or an incurable condition." There is no mention of mercy here at all. The definitions of euthanasia has inherent problems. Some religious ethicists believe that passive euthanasia should not be included under the umbrella at all because according to Catholic moral teachings, "unless the actual intent to end a persons life is present, euthanasia has not occurred”. Some other religious groups are of the opinion that the definition of euthanasia should be governed not by the underlying intent but by the end result of the action. The Christian response to euthanasia is to oppose it. Simply put, it amounts to killing. In legal terms, it is ‘the intentional killing of a patient as part of his or her medical treatment.’ (Cornwall-Kelly). Mercy killing has been debated over by many religious heads and has to be addressed seriously because it is a matter of life and death. Fr. Frank A. Pavone (Priests for Life) is of the firm conviction that suffering is not meaningless and human beings have no claim on death. How justified are such killings? Who has authorized other human beings to end lives of others? Do we have a right over our life? Is life valuable only when it is healthy? Questions of ethics, morality and religion have arisen in various parts of the world and amongst different religious groups. We have a responsibility to take care of fellow human beings and preserve life. He believes that this so-called mercy killing has nothing to do with mercy. It eliminates suffering while suffering has a reason behind it. Human life has infinite value and a person is worth more than the entire physical universe. This sort of killing is against the Christian values and against the principles set by Christ. Catholic leaders believe that human life is a gift of God and has to be preserved until death comes naturally. The Second Vatican Council declared, "Euthanasia and willful suicide" are "offenses against life itself" which "poison civilization". Pope John Paul II, who reigned as the head of the Roman Catholic Church opposed euthanasia, which he characterized as a “culture of death.” (Encyclopedia Britannica). He has repeatedly declared euthanasia to be "a grave violation of the law of God” (cited by Hemel). As Christianity spread during the second century, suicide was condemned. Anyone who took his own life was denied Christian burial according to Humphry and Wickett (cited by Devine). Biblical Christianity takes its stand on theism. Christians believe that God created the universe and mankind along with it. Hence, human life is sacred. According to Bible, man is not an object and is different from plants and animals. Christians believe that the same consciousness exists even after death; the soul never dies. Christians also believe that there is something called absolute morality, instituted by God. The sixth of the Ten Commandments says, ‘You shall not murder’. Suicide is also a form of murder. According to Catholic catechism, (2280) Everyone is responsible for his life before God who has given it to him. It is God who remains the sovereign Master of life. We are obliged to accept life gratefully and preserve it for his honor and the salvation of our souls. (Cited by Devine). It directly opposes euthanasia by stating, (2277) Whatever its motives and means, direct euthanasia consists in putting an end to the lives of handicapped, sick, or dying persons. It is morally unacceptable. The underlying principle of euthanasia is that death should be painless which Bible too does not condemn. What Bible opposes is the killing of oneself to escape suffering – be it physical or mental. Suicide is immoral including assisted suicide. A person who silently stands by watching a person commit suicide also has a moral responsibility and carries moral blame. Everyone will die eventually and this is no argument because the decision when to die lies in the hands of God. We have no right to induce death even in the case of suffering due to terminally fatal diseases. God alone decides who should have a normal life or a physically challenged life as God told Moses in the account of the burning bush. “Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the LORD?"[48] Besides, "Christianity gives meaning to suffering because it is linked to the sufferings of God Incarnate, who willingly suffered and died for our redemption. In suffering, we humans follow in his ways, the way of the Cross” (Cited by Hemel). Sufferings are connected to the past and induce one to the path of a spiritual life. Sufferings bring one close to God and encourage man to surrender to His will. Passive euthanasia too is subject to criticism because “Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins" (Proverbs and James cited by Devine). Hence, standing by mute and allowing a person’s condition to deteriorate is considered a sin according to Christianity. Within Christianity too different opinions exist. The Catholics interpret scripture as the direct word of God whereas the Protestants interpret scripture metaphorically. The Catholics rely heavily on natural law. Catholic theologian George Kelly (Cited by Hemel) believes that the euthanasia movement is anti-Christian. Sufferings alleviate a person; it is an opportunity given to him to atone for his sins. God has a purpose behind it. This does not mean that people should be allowed to suffer while others stand by as witness. Christianity allows one to alleviate the suffering of others but not to eliminate it through murder. The Protestants disagree and there are differing perspectives that predominate within Christianity on the ethics of euthanasia. They feel that active euthanasia is an ethical way to alleviate traumatic stresses. Against the Catholic perspective that euthanasia is simply a murder of someone who is unable to protect himself culture herself, Protestant ethicist Joseph Fletcher argues that it is dehumanizing and unjustified to allow someone to die a slow painful death. According to him, it is justified to help him avoid this ugly death. The orthodox Christians firmly believe that God has designed the purpose of human life and human beings do not have the power to evaluate their life on earth. Through their sufferings, they teach humanity about perseverance and compassion. Active euthanasia, therefore, is a sinful act. Euthanasia violates the prerogatives of God who is solely responsible for the beginning and end of human life. Ethicists Jean deBlois and Kevin ORourke explain that human beings are not competent enough to decide what is best for another human being. The Episcopal Diocese of Newark has stated its willingness for euthanasia under limited situations. They state that when all means of amelioration of pain have been exhausted for a person suffering from a painful, incurable disease, he has the moral right to end his life. Bible says that it reprehensible to use the tongue to curse or slander another human being. On the same principle it is worse to end their lives. Human beings have been made in the image of God and there is no justification to kill them or allow them to kill themselves (Isle of Man). They have an inherent and God-given dignity. The Protestants take the Catholic stand against euthanasia to be uncompassionate towards fellow beings. On the contrary, true Christians are compassionate as they seek to follow in the footsteps of Christ. Arguments are in abundance of the situation when the agony of the patient is prolonged due to the life support system. The expenses too might be prohibitive for some families. What happens in such cases? The Catholic catechism offers direction here (Devine). The motives in withholding excessive treatment to the ailing should be right. Normal care should be given but when the end is imminent and inevitable, it is pointless to apply extraordinary measures of medicine. The Catholic ethicists hold the motive as the central point. In certain instances what they do not categorize as euthanasia, is considered as passive or indirect euthanasia according to the liberals. In case the person dies due to over medication it is not euthanasia as the intention was to provide him relief. At the same time, one has to use discretion because there have been a number of cases when patients have woken up after ten or even twenty years in coma. In such cases, taking the life would be going against nature and against the will of God. Some argue that euthanasia does not violate the sanctity of life because in a vegetative state they are no longer ‘persons’. They believe that the person may be biologically alive but actually passed away. The Catholic catechism rejects this theory and affirms that the patient remains a person until he dies, after which he merges with God. Hence, they deserve the best care until the end. On assisting suicide also Christian ethicists are divided. The Catholic Church declares in Evangelium Vitae (Devine), to assist in suicide is injustice and can never be pardoned, even it has been requested. While the conservative Protestant ethicists agree to this, Methodist ethicist Paul Ramsey does not. Some Christian ethicists cite from the book of Matthew, ‘do unto others what you have them do to you’. The Anglican Church however disagrees to the view of the Catholics and the conservative Protestant Churches. The Church of Englands Board for Social Responsibility declared that if a person was asked to honestly wish for something, many would ask for death. To sum it, Bible gives no right to anyone to end his life or the lives of others. Man is here with a definite purpose, even it is to suffer. Every individual is an image of God. Suffering elevates the person; it is a God-given opportunity to make up for sins committed. Nobody has the authority to interfere with the ways of God. Religion is most important to a person at the end of his life. While the Catholic church vehemently opposes euthanasia, it does consider not imposing unnecessary medications to merely prolong the life with the help of the life support system. This according to others is called passive euthanasia. The Protestants on the other hand aggressively stress that the decision for euthanasia should be left to the conscience of the individual as each human being has a right to lead his life the way he wants. Life is sacred; human beings cannot take the divine power into their hands and use it at will. The debate on euthanasia continues. References: Devine D J (2006), The Rise of Euthanasia, 4 February 2006 Encyclopedia Britannica Online,< http://search.eb.com/ebi/article-9390143?query=euthanasia&ct=ebi> 4 February 2006 Encyclopedia Britannica Online, 4 February 2006 Euthanasia in the Isle of Man (2005), 4 February 2006 Hemel D J (2005), Modern Jewish, Christian and Muslim Perspectives on Death, Pain and Suffering, and the Ethics of Euthanasia, 4 February 2006 Pavone F A Fr (n.d.), Brief Reflections on Euthanasia, Priests for Life, 4 February 2006 Read More