The Question Of Euthanasia (moral, gospel, Deist, choice, mission)

[DrM]

I would like to throw out this topic for debate as I inch closer to the end of my life on a daily basis. I personally plan to live out my remaining years (when they arrive, of course) in the hopes that, should I require a speedy end to a painful existence, it will be legal and efficient to request such assistance.

While I understand the underlying ethical considerations involving these kinds of techniques, I cannot fathom why many religious doctrines would also become involved in the removal of what should be a fundamental right of life - that is, the right to death. I believe that with the proper review, regulation, and application of these procedures, the ethics concerns inherent in these procedures can be overcome. True, we must be careful that people's lives are not ended against their will, and opening the door to which this kind of situation may arise is certainly cause for caution; I can only view the prevention of euthanasia for people who are in unending pain while near the end of their lives as anything as inhumane, at the least, and barbaric at most.

Yet, in the end, when we pass through the mazes and hoops of ethics and approach a true solution to the suffering, there is a wall of religious dogma to block our exit:

On March 30, 1995, in his Evangelium Vitae (Gospel of Life),Pope John Paul II declared assisted suicide unethical. “Suicide is always as morally objectionable as murder,” he maintained. “‘Assisted suicide’ means to cooperate in and at times be the actual perpetrator of an injustice that can never be excused, even if it is requested.” The pope’s view is shared by many religious leaders, ethicists, and other people who feel that assisted suicide is unethical because it usurps what they consider to be God’s right to determine a person’s lifespan. Many also oppose assisted suicide...

Originally Posted by Pope John Paul II

"We must neither forget nor underestimate that there are well-documented cases of at least partial recovery even after many years; we can thus state that medical science, up until now, is still unable to predict with certainty who among patients in this condition will recover and who will not. ...

"I feel the duty to reaffirm strongly that the intrinsic value and personal dignity of every human being do not change, no matter what the concrete circumstances of his or her life. A man, even if seriously ill or disabled in the exercise of his highest functions, is and always will be a man, and he will never become a 'vegetable' or an 'animal.' Even our brothers and sisters who find themselves in the clinical condition of a 'vegetative state' retain their human dignity in all its fullness. ...

"Medical doctors and health-care personnel, society and the church have moral duties toward these persons from which they cannot exempt themselves ...

"I should like particularly to underline how the administration of water and food, even when provided by artificial means, always represents a natural means of preserving life, not a medical act. Its use, furthermore, should be considered, in principle, ordinary and proportionate, and as such morally obligatory, insofar as and until it is seen to have attained its proper finality, which in the present case consists in providing nourishment to the patient and alleviation of his suffering.

"The evaluation of probabilities, founded on waning hopes for recovery when the vegetative state is prolonged beyond a year, cannot ethically justify the cessation or interruption of minimal care for the patient, including nutrition and hydration. Death by starvation or dehydration is, in fact, the only possible outcome as a result of their withdrawal. In this sense it ends up becoming, if done knowingly and willingly, true and proper euthanasia by omission."

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiheral.../8439592.htm?1c

There is a fear in all of us... the greatest fear we face and the ultimate end to our strongest instincts - the fear of death. I can't help but feel that the strong and all too human denial of death which comes from all of us is magnified by this fear (under guise of religion) and then hung on the necks of decent and kind individuals. People whose unending lust for the preservation of life because of these influences can be seen as incredible cruelty by those dying in the clutches of pain (or worse).

People who might otherwise recognize that while a person's dignity is indeed a high ideal, the choice to end an existence marked by misery is the greatest dignity that can be given another human.

[The Voice of Reason]

An excellent post DrM. I am in agreement with your stance on euthanasia, and agree with 100% of your position.

I think that one of the biggest roadblocks to euthanasia is the almost universal belief in the sanctity of human life.
For me, I find this puzzling. I do not see human life as sacrosanct. I feel like the majority of human life is worth protecting, but when someone chooses to end their own life, I feel that is their perogative (especially if they are suffering from a terminal illness and suffering great pain). Then again, I'm strongly in favor of the death penalty, so you can't just go by me.

TVOR

[Scott1]

DrM,

Thanks for the topic and for posting the words of the Holy Father! Although I would like to encourage you to read and post more of his work, I have one problem: you're not Catholic.
His teachings have NOTHING to do with you. Your "wall of religious dogma " is non-existant... you should feel free to kill yourself or someone you love at any time.

Peace,
Scott

[Feathers in Hair]

Originally Posted by SOGFPP

... you should feel free to kill yourself or someone you love at any time.

Ooops, I might have missed something.

[Scott1]

Not at all Feathers....... DrM feels restrained by the teachings of the Catholic Church on the dignity of life........ I was just informing him that the teachings of the Church are for members of the Church and he should not feel burdened or restricted by them.

Thanks for checking on my sanity........ it's a good thing to do every once and a while!
Your friend,
Scott

[Feathers in Hair]

Ahhh, I see! I'm still getting over this flu/ cold/ evil virus thingy, so the meds are messing up my powers to interpret things properly! Thanks for explaining!

Originally Posted by SOGFPP

Thanks for checking on my sanity........ it's a good thing to do every once and a while!
Your friend,
Scott

Hehee, I was actually doing a self-sanity check... We should each come with the little dipsticks they have for oil in cars so we can check each other, though! "Hmm.... Looks like Feathers is running a quart low on sanity, we'll have to give her a fill-up."

Of course, that'd make life a lot less interesting!

[The Voice of Reason]

Originally Posted by SOGFPP

DrM,

Thanks for the topic and for posting the words of the Holy Father! Although I would like to encourage you to read and post more of his work, I have one problem: you're not Catholic.
His teachings have NOTHING to do with you. Your "wall of religious dogma " is non-existant... you should feel free to kill yourself or someone you love at any time.

Peace,
Scott

SOG -

Good to see you posting again, my friend. I realize that as a Deist, DrM does not believe in revealed faith, even though he believes in God. Perhaps I am wrong, but I think the good doctor is only using the Catholic teachings to demonstrate the church's opposition. I don't think he is saying that he adheres to them. I should not speak for him - this is just what I surmise.

Are you asking him to not use the Catholic doctrine to make his point, or are you just bringing up the fact that he is not Catholic? Or am I missing your point altogether?

Thanks,
TVOR

[Hirohito18200]

Wasn't DrM simply presenting the "wall of dogma" that would keep him from killing himself? It didn't seem like he felt particularly bound by the sentiments of the catholic church. Wow, I'm posting several hours late, joy.

[DrM]

Originally Posted by Hirohito18200

Wasn't DrM simply presenting the "wall of dogma" that would keep him from killing himself? It didn't seem like he felt particularly bound by the sentiments of the catholic church.

My sentiments. Thank you.