rae, moral choices: euthanasia5

The case against physician assisted suicide and euthanasia (PAS/E)

Opponents of PAS/E argue the difference between killing and allowing to die - we should not kill and innocent person. This is the key distinction for many and ends the discussion. The other arguments which follow simply build on or follow on from this one.

Wednesday 21 September 2011

Physician assisted suicide and euthanasia are way of playing God

The taking of innocent life is a prerogative that belongs solely to God - we are not allowed to decide such matters. Modern medicine doe snot play god in helping to sustain life, only in actively taking life.This presupposes you believe in God.


Suffering may be redemptiveThe Bible suggests that suffering produces character - this is a major part of biblically justifying suffering. Rom 5:3-5, 2 Cor 4:16-17, Jas 1:2-5If applied consistently to medicine it precludes any treatment that alleviates suffering (pain). Should we stop all such medical treatment? Biblically suffering for your faith has redemptive value (character building) - Rae suggests suffering that can be avoided should be, to not do so is foolishness. At the end of life death is imminent so how can it be redemptive?


Misdiagnoses are possible

What if a person has been diagnosed - PAS/E leaves no way back.Rae cites Sidney Hook, an author, who requested all life support be removed from him - this was refused and within a month he was out of hospital and 6 months later had resumed writing.


Euthanasia will probably move from voluntary to non voluntary

Family pressure, mounting bills, loss of money in a will, all can lead to a family wanting things to end, they are tired of the patients living - even if the patient does not.There could be a pressure for elderly, terminally ill to “justify their existence”The pressure is to do one’s “duty to die and get out of the way” Richard Lamm, former governor of Colorado.This could lead to non-terminally ill people such as those with Alzheimers, loss of brain function etc. Being subject to euthanasia


The argument is that voluntary euthanasia is a slippery slope that should be avoided.


ConclusionThis will become more complex as medical science progresses in its ability to extend life.How do we reconcile using scare and expensive medical treatments when it is futile?All life is valuable to God so moving to support of euthanasia should be resisted.When reasonable treatment has been exercised it is right to the patient the right to die as an entry into their eternal destiny - in the presence of God.


rae, moral choices: euthanasia5

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