To take a life is believed to oppose God’s love for that person and rejects the duty of a person to live life according to God’s plan. Christians believe that God creates everyone as an image of him “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness… so God created man in his own image, in the image of God… he created them” (Genesis 1:26-27). Christians therefore believe that if you kill yourself, you are killing a part of God as he lives in all of us. Anyone taking away someone’s life is committing a grievous act of disobedience against God and is putting themselves on a level with God who alone “himself gives all (people) life and breath and everything else” (Act 17:25).
Killing is forbidden by God himself. As in Exodus 20:13 the Ten Commandments were announced “Thou shalt not murder” being the sixth one of them and traditionally this has been interpreted by Christians and Jews to include euthanasia. Suffering has a special place in God’s plan, “compassion, and gracious, long suffering, and plenteous in mercy” (psalm 86:15). Jesus died in pain on the cross, human suffering is meant to connect us to the suffering that Jesus felt. However, this should not be taken to mean that people should purposely cause pain to themselves, yet it does give those that are suffering the possibility of feeling spiritually closer to Jesus. It gives the person a chance to grow closer to God and to strengthen their faith and trust in God, they can learn from it. Thomas Wood wrote that suffering can be an occasion for spiritual growth. It can have meaning in the context of a life lived in faith.
Christians believe that it is important to use medical knowledge to keep people alive and not just let nature take its course, many see medicine as a positive thing, a gift from God and many churches support the hospice movement. They can argue that God made us all for a reason and plan’s everyone’s individual life, Jeremiah 1:5. They believe God gave humans a soul which carries on when we die and goes to heaven with God, in this way Christians are seen as more important than other creatures. God made man in his image and therefore life is valuable as man is set apart from other animals through his creation, Genesis 1:26-27.
Mistakes can also occur, testing can go wrong. A doctor might take a patients life and then realise the diagnosis was incorrect. Doctors would have to be 100% sure that the information is correct which is almost never possible. There may be an element of doubt that could lead to terrible mistakes and a lifetime of regret. Doctors may also be wrong as if a suffering Christian may pray to God that may be followed by a miracle. Many Christians believe that God does heal the sick if they have faith, “And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven” (James 5:15). Christians should not want euthanasia as if they do want it, it shows how little faith they have.
Some people, especially the elderly might feel like they are being forced into euthanasia by their relatives when really they don’t wish to take their life, “Provide and care for your family (or show no faith)” (Colossians 3:20-21). It is their choice and not anyone else’s. Also elders can feel like burdens to their family and may not be forced into euthanasia but can feel like their family would be better off without them than with them. In the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus taught Christians to help anyone in need (Luke 10:25) - the families should not just give up on the elderly and make them feel unwanted. They may ask for voluntary euthanasia just so they can get out of their family’s way and make them happy.
In conclusion, Christians can refer to many Biblical texts to support their views on euthanasia. There are many points against it that are brought up from day to day. Christian’s are faced with many challenges and can often be tempted to change their views on euthanasia if they happen to come across a particular situation for example when someone is in so much pain that it seems cruel to keep them alive. However, they must remember that the bible is unequivocal and has only one view; that killing is wrong.
The Hospice Movement represents one Christian response to the problem of pain and suffering. Explain how a hospice works and what it seeks to achieve.
Hospices are used worldwide to help alleviate pain and suffering. Hospice care is based upon the belief that death and dying are a natural part of life that are seen to be important experiences for people to endure. They are designed to transform the pessimistic view of death feared by many patients and to encourage the last years of their lives to be calm, happy and peaceful times in which they will feel well spent. Many Christians believe that hospices are a gift from them to God to show their appreciation of God’s gift of life to people and to show that they support the dignity and sanctity of life. They are regarded by some as one of the greatest social innovations of the last one hundred years.
The first modern day hospices started off in England in the 1960’s in response to the fact that health care professionals did not feel that dying patients were given appropriate and adequate care. They noticed that often some procedures that patients were put through would prolong their life slightly but leave them in a lot of pain. Due to seeing the bad care taken on the patients, families and friends were often put through emotional and spiritual suffering. As a result, the hospice movement came about to address the psychosocial, medical and spiritual issues faced by patients and their families. In 1967, in London, Dame Cicely Sanders founded St. Christopher’s hospice which jump started the modern hospice movement. This was the first hospice linking expert pain and symptom control, compassionate care, teaching and clinical research. Dame Cicely Saunders recognised the inadequacy of the care of the dying that was offered in hospitals, “there is nothing more that can be done” was a popular statement used, one that Dame Cicely refused to accept. Throughout her time at St Christopher’s she has always said “there is so much more to be done.” She understood that a dying person is more than a patient with symptoms to be controlled. She combined excellent medical and nursing care with “holistic” support that recognised practical, emotional, social, and spiritual need. She saw the dying person and the family as the unit of care and developed bereavement services at St Christopher’s Hospice to extend support beyond the death of the patient.
The U.S was the first to have volunteer hospices and in 1971, Dame Cicely Sanders began to help to train doctors in the United States in hospice care. They quickly spread throughout the U.S and to the rest of the world. Medicare added hospice care as a benefit in 1983 which improved the capacity of local hospices to respond to the needs of patients. In 1993, the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organisation instituted national standards of hospice care to insure that the quality of hospices kept high.
Christians feel that hospices are a response to the pain and suffering that many people undergo for the last years of their life, or for most of their life. Most people find that when in pain from a disease or illness, they find it difficult to be joyful and content with their situation, they suffer in agony and distress. There are many bible texts relating to pain and suffering which Christians can look to at a time of need. They may ask “Why is my pain perpetual, and my wound incurable?” (Jeremiah 15:18) and to that they could get many responses from the Bible, “a God full of compassion, and gracious, long suffering” (psalms 86:15), they will find that it brings them closer to God as he is with them when they are suffering. Hospices try to offer the best facilities in order to ensure the years of pain are as best as they can be, “took him to an inn, and took care of him” (Luke 10:34). Hospices are also a way of combating euthanasia as they did come about because Christians are against euthanasia. People can learn to live with their pain and suffering “enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer” (2 Corinthians 1:6), people have an opportunity for tremendous spiritual growth for both them and their family. It is the love of Christ that provides the dignity and quality at the end of life.
The Christian Community Hospice is a hospice dedicated to God and is committed to helping others to show their commitment and loyalty to God. They have three main goals. They wish to allow the dying process to unfold naturally by emphasizing symptom control. It does not hasten or postpone death, it is to enhance the quality of the patient’s remaining life, with dignity and provide care primarily in the home. They believe and affirm the sanctity and dignity of life and profess that all the work of this Corporation shall be to glorify God.
Most hospices deliver a full range of care services to patients who are referred either by their own doctor or by a hospital consultant. The patients do not have to pay to go there; many are heavily dependant on voluntary donations to meet expenses. Care is usually provided by a multi-professional team who specialise in palliative care. The team can include doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapist, chaplain and social workers. Hospices provide every patient with symptom control, respite care which offers time out for the patient and family, rehabilitation and nursing care. In order for the family to feel fully supported and helped, many hospices often have a chaplain. They offer pastoral support and spiritual care to enable patients and families to understand and look at the issues involved. The chaplain will also provide a ministry of word, prayer and sacrament as requested and establish links with local clergy as required.
Palliative Care (comfort care) is pain relief for a terminally ill person through symptom and pain management. It is aimed to provide comfort and a good quality of life for as long as the person may live. Well-rounded palliative care programs also address mental health and spiritual needs. The focus is on compassionate specialised care for those who are in pain constantly. It can be done in either a hospice, hospital or at home. As medical needs vary depending on the disease, specialised palliative care programs are in use for common disease such as AIDS. Specialised care giving is also available if organic changes in the brain lead to a coma or dementia.
Hospices are a way of helping the needy before God. It is a good deed from people to God and shows God that Christians appreciate what God has given them, “So God created people in his own image; God patterned them after himself; male and female he created them.' (Genesis 1:27). They try to understand the point of view of the patient and make them feel welcome and wanted. They do their best to ensure they do not feel down but feel as happy as they can be. Christians see hospices as a great response to suffering which offer help for people suffering and prolong their lives as much as possible, showing God appreciation for the lives he has provided for us.
C) ‘Euthanasia can never be justified’
Christians often only have one view on euthanasia as in the bible it clearly states that killing is wrong in any form. They argue that it is wrong to take the life of another person whether voluntary or not. In biblical times, people did not have good medication and help for the terminally ill; nowadays they can have as much help as they need in order to live as long and as happy life as possible. Therefore, some people may argue that if we have facilities to keep the terminally ill alive and happy then why are we even considering the idea of euthanasia? Does the choice to kill someone mean that we are taking God’s role - ‘playing God’? Many Christians genuinely believe that euthanasia is the same as abortion or any other means of killing; it is a very controversial issue about which many people, especially Christians, feel strongly. They believe that people who are suffering should not opt for death but work through prayer and practical solutions in order to alleviate their pain. Most Christians believe that life has been a gift from God and cannot be discarded as this would be a rejection of God’s most precious gift.
Some people might agree with this statement, especially Christians because they believe life is a sacred gift from God. Euthanasia, in a lot of Christians’ views, is to oppose God’s love for that person and rejects the duty of a person to live life according to God’s plan. Christians believe that God creates everyone as an image of him “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness… so God created man in his own image, in the image of God… he created them” (Genesis 1:26-27). Christians therefore believe that if you kill yourself, you are killing a part of God as he lives in all of us. Anyone taking away someone’s life is committing a grievous act of disobedience against God and is putting themselves on a level with God who alone “himself gives all (people) life and breath and everything else” (Act 17:25), therefore the justification of euthanasia is wrong.
People may also argue that God made us all for a reason and plan’s everyone’s individual life. They believe God gave humans a soul which carries on when we die and goes to heaven with God, in this way humans are referred by Christians as more important and sacred than any other living creature and that they are set apart to others so should care for themselves and not give up on life.
There have been many articles in newspapers reporting about euthanasia, an anti euthanasia alliance was formed by supporters of the ‘Care Not Killing Alliance’ to promote palliative care, and oppose efforts to legalise euthanasia, or physician-assisted suicide on 31st January 2006. Many Christians often write articles about euthanasia and they are often the main people to do something to stop it. Also stories are often printed in the papers on people trying to get permission from the courts to take their life as was the case with Annie Lindsell who suffered from a degenerative muscle wasting disease, she applied to the courts when she became incapable of moving however she died before the courts could come to a decision.
People can also argue that mistakes are sometimes made by doctors, they may take a patient’s life and then realise the diagnosis was incorrect. Doctors would have to be 100% sure that the information is correct which is almost never possible. There may be an element of doubt that could lead to terrible mistakes and a lifetime of regret. Doctors should not be allowed to perform euthanasia as they would be going against their promise in the Hippocratic Oath that is to save lives, not take them away. Doctors may also be wrong as if a suffering Christian may pray to God that may be followed by a miracle. A doctor would feel very guilty and ashamed if they had made a mistake and may never be able to forgive themselves. Many Christians believe that God does heal the sick if they have faith.
Also, some people, especially the elderly might feel like they are being forced into euthanasia by their relatives when really they don’t wish to take their life. It is their choice and not anyone else’s. Elders can feel burdens to their family and may not be forced into euthanasia but can feel like their family would be better off without them than with them. They may ask for voluntary euthanasia just so they can get out of their family’s way and make them happy.
People can argue that euthanasia might have a negative impact on the community by reducing the importance of care by patients who are dying, or by preventing people from wanting to go to hospital for fear of the possible consequences. If people accept that killing takes place in hospitals, their respect for life could decrease and killing could seem not such a big deal.
Other people might disagree with this statement and say that euthanasia is not the same as murder. Gregory E. Pence wrote an article ‘why physicians should aid the dying’ which explains that if someone is asking to be killed and if they do not want to live then it is not wrong as they are dying and they would rather get death over with then spend the rest of their lives suffering in pain. They may say that voluntary euthanasia shows mercy for those suffering with intolerable pain from an incurable illness, it is a merciful opportunity to end needless suffering and people are willing to offer it to animals so why not humans as well?
People may also argue that individuals should be able to make their own decisions and nobody should be able to change their point of view because they are not in the same situation and do not know how that person is feeling, as John Stuart Mill said - people should have full autonomy. People are allowed to live their lives how they want and have control over their bodies in matters of life, so how come it is not the same for death?
People may say that every human being deserves respect and has the right to choose their own destiny, including how they wish to live or die.
They may say that it should be an option for a competent adult who is fully able to be independent and make life changing decisions by their selves. People argue that it should be an offer as one option among many, along with the kind of palliative care offered by hospitals and hospices.
Doctors, today, do legally give pain-relieving treatment in doses that will bring about people’s deaths quicker, or they may withdraw treatment from someone that is brain dead for example knowing that as a consequence they will die. Some people may argue that voluntary euthanasia would be more honest and much safer if it was legalised. They may argue that there’s no ethical difference between withdrawing treatment and delivering a lethal injection.
Another argument for euthanasia to be justified is that human beings should be able to maintain dignity up until death, it is not simply a matter of pain but off self respect and of someone’s standard of living is such that they no longer wish to live, then they should be able to end their life and if necessary have an assisted death. Also the quality of life is one that only that person can define and someone having control over their own life is a way of enhancing their dignity.
I think that euthanasia, in some cases, can be justified because I do not believe that people should be put through so much pain as it is unfair and cruel. However, I also believe it cannot be justified sometimes as it will show strength, faith and devotion from the person towards God if they cope with their illness, their life does not have to be destroyed due to the disease and people can often learn to live with it.
