'Compulsory euthanasia' is when it is the law that a person must be killed, for example, if they have reached a certain age or have a certain illness. In the Bible it says: 'God blessed them and said to them,"Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground."'.Christians believe that God has blessed us with life and he has worked hard for us to be alive. It is his wish that we rule over the world and fill it. If we were to legalise compulsory euthanasia it would go against this wish of God as we would not be filling the earth.
'Passive euthanasia' is when the doctors give their patient a pain-killing drug but do nothing to save the patient.If a person was to stand back and let another die, it would surely be seen by Christians as a murder. Christians believe that we have been sent to earth to look after everything on the earth, including our fellow humans. Christians feel a sense of stewardship and a responsibility to care for others.Christians believe that it is God's wish for them to feel this responsibility, as in the Bible, the parable of 'The Good Samaritan' teaches them that even if they do not know a person, it is their duty as a good Christian to make sure that the ill person is cared for and to ensure that they are healthy and happy. If a person was to let passive euthanasia be undertaken, even when they can do something to prolong their life, it would go against this teaching.
The final type of euthanasia is 'Active euthanasia'. This is when doctors give their patient a pain-killing drug, that they know will infact kill the patient.The Sixth Commandment is: 'You shall not murder'( Exodus 20:13 ) If a doctor was to administer a lethal drug to a patient under normal circumstances, it would be seen as nothing but murder. Christians believe that when a lethal dose is given, even when the family or the patient themselves have asked for it, it is still murder and nothing can change that.
Euthanasia is illegal throughout the world, except in the State of Oregon,in the USA, the Netherlands and Belgium.In 1995, Australia’s Northern Territory approved a euthanasia bill.It went into effect in 1996, but was overturned by the Australian Parliament in 1997. Also, in 1997, Colombia’s Supreme Court ruled that penalties for mercy killing should be removed.However, the ruling does not go into effect until guidelines, which are still to be drafted, are approved by the Colombian Congress.No country allows compulsory euthanasia.People find it very hard to believe that,even with the correct guidelines, the legalisation of euthanasia would not be abused.
There are many medical issues surrounding euthanasia. It is a very difficult decision to be made by any doctor or carer whether or not they want to assist someone to die. If a doctor administrates a drug with the intention of killing his patient, then he has committed a crime.At present the law does not allow anyone to give lethal doses of medicines.Doctors are well aware that they do not understand all diseases fully. They may be reluctant to assist a patient to die when there is the possibility that in a very short space of time a cure may be found. Doctors are not willing to kill patients. They may feel too guilty afterwards and it could have bad effects on their future as a doctor. When doctors qualify, they make a promise called the hippocratic oath. This means that they will not harm their patients in any way including euthanasia.If death is discussed frequently between the patient and doctor the patient may feel that they cannot trust their doctor.
Euthanasia is seen as murder by many Christians. They believe in the sanctity of life, which means that life is sacred and should be prolonged.
Euthanasia is against the word and will of God.Christians do not argue that we cannot kill ourselves, because God has given us free will, but that it would be wrong for us to do so.They say that to kill oneself is to deny God and to deny Gods control over our lives and his control over when our lives end.
Christians also believe that humans should not be killed because we are to be valued, irrespective of age,sex,race, religion, social status or ability to achieve.It is believed that human life is a 'basic good' not an 'instrumental good' which means it is good in itself,not a means to an end.Christians say that we must respect ourselves too,we should not put an end to our lives just because it is the easiest way to escape our suffering.
Euthanasia can give many bad influences to society. It give the feeling that it is alright to end a life,some lives are not worth living and that some disabilities make a human being worth less than another.To propose euthanasia to an individual is to judge that their current life is not worthwhile.
The Roman Catholic Church is strongly opposed to euthanasia as it is seen as murder.In Evangelium Vitae, the Pope said that to cause death in this way was 'a grave violation of the law of God'.Roman Catholics believe that doctors should not be allowed to use any extraordinary treatment to keep a person alive, however, if large doses of painkillers are used to help ease a persons suffering,and as a result the person dies, then this is seen as double effect and is permitted.The Church of England holds a similar view.It says that although taking a life is forbidden, there are very strong arguments that say how unfair it is to prolong a persons suffering when nothing will be gained.
Christians encourage the work of hospices and other organisations to ease the suffering of the ill persons and to ease the grief of their family. Christians believe that people should be allowed to die with dignity without the need for euthanasia.
