The Jewish tradition views the protection of human life as very precious and forbids doing anything that might shorten life. However, it does not require doctors to make dying last longer than it naturally would.
Jewish law and tradition regards human life as sacred, and say that it is wrong for anyone to shorten a human life. They believe that all life is of infinite value, in spite of its length or quality, because all human beings are made in the image of God. However, it is acceptable to ask God in prayer to remove a person from their pain and suffering.
Active Euthanasia
Jewish law forbids active euthanasia and views it as murder. There are no exceptions to this rule and it makes no difference if the person even wants to die.
Shortening life
It is wrong to shorten a life even if it would end very soon, because every is considered equal in value to many years of life.
So even if a person has started to die and is going to die in 72 hours, any action that might speed up their death - for example closing the eyes or moving a limb - is prohibited.
Passive Euthanasia
Jewish law says that doctors (and patients) have a duty to preserve life, and a doctor must do everything he/she can to save a patient's life - even if the patient doesn't want them to.
However, there is some freedom for doctors in cases where a patient is terminally ill.
Although a doctor cannot do anything that hastens death, "if there is something which is preventing the soul from departing" a doctor can remove whatever is preventing the dying person's soul from departing.
This means that if something is an hold-up to the natural process of death and the patient only survives because of it, it is permitted under Jewish law to take out that thing.
So if a patient is certain to die, and is only being kept alive by a ventilator, it is allowable to switch off the ventilator since it is delaying the natural process of death.
Quickening one's own death
Human beings don't have the right to kill themselves, so someone who is terminally ill and in great pain cannot take action to speed their own death. Even if they are mentally fit to make that choice, the rule that life is sacred forbids them from killing themselves.
A passage in the Talmud tells the story of Rabbi Chanina ben Teradion, who was being burned alive by the Romans. His pupils urged him to end his suffering quickly by opening his mouth and inhaling the flames. He replied, "It is better that He who gave me my soul should take it rather than I should cause injury to myself."
It's also against Jewish law to help someone to kill him or herself, since one is not allowed to enable another person to break Jewish law.
Doctors are commanded to do their best to heal the sick and prevent suffering. So it's OK for a doctor to put a patient through life-endangering treatment if that is likely to extend the patient's life or reduce their pain.
A Sikh view
Sikhs get their ethics mostly from the teachings of their scripture, , and the Sikh Code of Conduct (the Rehat Maryada). Guidance also comes from the example set by the gurus, and from the experience of the Sikh community over the last 500 years. These do not give detailed answers to many ethical questions, but just set general principles.
Euthanasia
Sikhs have a high respect for life, which they see as a gift from God. Most Sikhs are against euthanasia, as they believe that the timing of birth and death should be left in God's hands.
Sikhs believe that suffering is part of one’s karma, and human beings should accept it without complaint and also make the best of the situation. However, Sikhism believes that life is a gift from God, but it also teaches that we have a duty to use life in a responsible way.
Much of Sikh moral teaching is based on caring for others who are less fortunate.
Therefore in certain situations in Sikhism, euthanasia might not always be an unattractive option.
A Muslim View
Is there a Right to Suicide?
There is no right in Islam. In Islam people do not own their bodies. People are given them for safekeeping. God is the owner and the giver of life and his rights in giving and in taking are not to be violated. Attempting to kill oneself is a crime in Islam and a very bad sin.
Euthanasia - Mercy Killing
Euthanasia to stop suffering is forbidden in Islam.
Patience and endurance are highly regarded and highly rewarded principles in
Islam.
The Quran says: "Do not kill (or destroy) yourselves, for verily Allah
has been to you most MercifulTo warn against suicide Prophet" (Quran 4:29).
Mohammad said: "Whoever kills himself with an iron instrument will be carrying it forever in hell. Whoever takes poison and kills himself will forever keep sipping that poison in hell. Whoever jumps off a mountain and kills himself will forever keep falling down in the depths of hell."
"Those who patiently preserve will truly receive a reward without measure" (Quran 39:10).
Prophet Mohammad taught "When the believer is afflicted with pain, even that of a prick of a thorn or more, God forgives his sins, and his wrongdoings are discarded as a tree sheds off its leaves."
These quotes are all saying that killing yourself is a sin, which has a punishment and that.
A Buddhist view
Buddhists are divided in their views of euthanasia, and the teachings of the Buddha don't clearly deal with it. Most Buddhists are against involuntary euthanasia. The most common view is that voluntary euthanasia is wrong, because it shows that one's mind is in a bad state.
Meditation and the proper use of pain killing drugs should allow a person to be in a state where they are not in mental pain, and so no longer need to use euthanasia.
Buddhists might also argue that helping to end someone's life is likely to put the helper into a bad mental state. This should also be avoided.
Avoiding harm
Non-violence and avoiding the ending of life is vital in Buddhism. The purposeful ending of someone’s life is against Buddhist teaching and voluntary euthanasia should be forbidden. Certain codes of Buddhist law clearly forbid it.
The Samurai tradition
Suicide was a significant part of the Japanese samurai tradition
The samurai ritual of was very much like euthanasia - an assistant would behead the person after the person had fatally stabbed him or herself so they could die quickly and reduce the amount of pain.
A Hindu view
In Hinduism there are many different views on euthanasia.
Most Hindus would say that a doctor should not accept a patient's request for euthanasia since this will cause the soul and body to be separated at a time, which was not natural. The result will damage the karma of both the doctor and patient. Other Hindus believe that euthanasia cannot be allowed because it breaks the teaching of ahimsa (doing no harm). However, some Hindus say that by helping to end a painful life a person is performing a good deed, and so fulfilling their moral duty
Euthanasia
There are two Hindu views on euthanasia:
By helping to end a painful life a person is performing a good deed and so fulfilling their moral duty to God.
By helping to end a life, even one filled with suffering, a person is disturbing the timing of the cycle of death and rebirth. This is a bad thing to do.
Suicide
Prayopavesa, or fasting to death, is an acceptable way for a Hindu to end their life in certain circumstances.
Prayopavesa is very different from what most people mean by suicide:
- It's non-violent and uses natural means
- It’s only used when it's the right time for this life to end - when this body has served its purpose and become a burden.
- Unlike the suddenness of suicide, prayopavesa is a gradual process, giving lots of time for the patient to prepare himself and those around him for his death.
- Prayopavesa is supposed to a calm process.
"The result of a virtuous action is pure joy; action done out of passion bring pain and suffering; ignorance arises from actions motivated by 'dark' intentions."
Bhagavad Gita 14:16
"May all be happy here;
May all be free from disease;
May all be righteous
and without suffering."
A Hindu prayer
