This can be a touchy subject to discuss on a blogging site, but I want to find out what other people think about euthanasia.
I agree with euthanasia because I'm against human suffering. I agree with this only when it is deemed necessary, so before you start calling me murderer, hear me out on my reasons for agreeing with this practice.
Visualize this scenario. A patient has a terminal disease, and everything's been tried to promote recovery, to no avail. The patient is in pain, he/she's been given medications to ease the pain but nothing works, and so every waking hour of every day, the patient has to suffer in great agony.
After a couple of days, the patient falls into a coma and is being kept alive by medical machinery. The family of this patient has tried everything and spent every single penny on the patient's treatment and hospitalization. The doctors say that there is no hope for him/her and so the family had two choices: let the patient die slowly or help them die faster, a good death, a painless death.
Regardless of the hardships and sadness, the family comes to a decision, and they ask the doctors to pull the plug on the machines that are keeping the patient alive. With great sadness and heaviness in their hearts, they watch as the patient takes there last breath and die as if he/she were still asleep.
The family had the option of keeping the patient alive for his/her last moments, but then they remembered the screams and painful moaning of the patient who would, every day, wake up to pain and sleep with pain. They wanted the patient to die a good death, a death that kept the patients dignity in tact and untouched.
Many people didn't agree with the family's decision to help terminate their family member's life who was already doomed to begin with. They were called murderers by many of them, but they didn't pay mind to their snide remarks and painful accusations because deep down they know that their family member was suffering on a daily basis at the last moments of his/her life. Deep down they feel that they made the right choice, though it was a painful one.
Would you agree with this family's decision or would you be one of the people that accuse them for murder?Are we playing the role of G-d when we make such a decision like terminating a dying human's life? My answer is that no, we aren't playing G-d because the person's fate was already decided by G-d. By practicing euthanasia, we're merely giving the person -- who's lived a good life -- a peaceful death, without pain.
Many times, people let their beliefs and emotions cloud their better judgement. Of course, not everyone is honest. Some people allow euthanasia on their sickened relatives just so they can get rid of them, regardless of the possibility of a substantial recovery.
According to an investigation on the legalization of euthanasia in Oregon, it was concluded that the reason for the approval of said practice was because the majority of the population aren't religious. And frankly, when I read this, I was not surprised due to the fact that the 99.99% of religious people are against "causing death" or "assisting suicide"; the possibilities of a religious person agreeing with euthanasia are quite slim, maybe 1 out of 10 religious people may agree somewhat with the practice, although not fully convinced, they might consider it in a situation that requires it.
There aren't a lot of countries that support a "good death," like for example in Puerto Rico. Puerto Ricans are known to be religious -- and so are other Hispanics -- so here the legalization of euthanasia is completely out of the question, much like other countries that don't support the practice.
I just think that keeping a dying relative alive regardless of their suffering is selfish because the patient's feelings -- if they can be expressed -- are not being respected. Yeah, it's painful to lose someone you care about, but for me it's more painful and cruel to watch them die slowly.
It's a hard and rash decision to make, especially if the patient is unable to communicate their requests. And it's even harder when you're religious because by making this decision you are "shunning your spiritual and moral beliefs", this is what is often thought. I'm pretty sure that no one wants to feel continuous pain and agony in the last days of their lives.
Are you for or against euthanasia? Do you think euthanasia is a "good death," or is it "playing God?" Is there anything in scripture that can point us to the moral and biblical truth about euthanasia?
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Comments (29)
This is a great debatable topic if it's nicely discussed. I actually wrote my final paper last semester on this topic for my Ethics class. I had just gone through the loss of my grandmother and it was a very personal paper. My grandmother died on God's terms. She had a living will which I highly believe in. There is no value in a life that is only living on machines. That's not how we were intended to live in this life. While I'm also not favorable for euthanasia. My argument in my paper was focused on the sanctity of life. I actually used the verse, "Nor be foolish: Why die before your time?" (Eccl 7:17b) to help with my argument in my paper. I also reasoned that if Jesus suffered for us why can't we suffer? I hated watching my Grandmother suffer but in the end it was on God's terms. I also had to watch my aunt suffer 8 years ago when she was dying of Ovarian cancer. Neither one believed living on machines but neither one also believed in drawing their last breath until God said it was enough. There's a reason for everything and I know personally how painful it is to watch someone suffer but it's not up to us how or when someone or ourselves should die. If you truly believe in God and our Savior our lives are in their hands until that last breath we take.
Just thought I would share that because when I started out wanting to write my paper on euthanasia I was going to try and write it agreeing with euthanasia because of a conversation I had with my mother. She believes in it and would prefer to take her own life so I (her only daughter) does not have to make those decisions on what needs to be done to take care of her when that time comes that she is no longer capable of taking care of herself. She refuses to be a burden and does not want to live in a nursing home of any kind. My grandmother was a strong lady who made all her decisions to live in an Assisted Living Home and what she needed to have to be taken care of.God sakes....in a democratic country, where votes are cast and counted, it would be to the detriment of any political party to allow this. It is completely legal in Cuba and North Korea and at one time...even encouraged in Cambodia by the Khemer Rouge.
How about murder plain and simple? I honestly could care less who your god is, I want to live. If you can't find that in your bible, then perhaps you can find a place for that book that doesn't affect me.
My morality's primary endeavor is to alleviate all suffering in any way I can. I'm lucky enough to have never had to call shots (literally) on anyone but a pet who was in agony. When my time comes I hope I'm in a country developed enough to provide the same choice to me.
I've watched life leave both of my grandparents in person. Both died suffering, both very nobly and bravely, but both very unnecessarily. I've had two people die in my arms in complete agony and after such experiences I will do everything in my power to alleviate such pain from anyone I love, which is everyone.
If your morality drives you to condemn people to a death of suffering, I strongly suggest you take a long look at where you derive truth from.
@When_We_Were_Both_Cats@xanga - A bullet to the brain certainly would eliminate suffering in all cases. But what if the State defined suffering as not having the correct ideology and decided it would institutionalize and then euthanize all people who were suffering in that way?
Haven't we seen that scenario played out before? And didn't everyone say, "It can't possibly happen here?"
Good governance and ethics therefore cannot be based on your or anyone else's experience or feelings of what you think mercy is or should be.
This issue concerns the sanctity of life, not the termination of life so that suffering can be totally eliminated.
@sometimestheycomebackanyway@xanga - you ask a a questionrather than answer one. Where have we "seen this before" where governments euthanize sick people?
The fact is people are euthanased daily by doctors in nurses but not in the manner you speak. They are simply withheld life saving extraordinary medical procedures that would save their lives in a form of euthanasia called "NO CODE BLUE". In lay language -- just let them die - and do not revive them. And whether you acknowledge it or not - you will be treated the same way if you die in a hospital.I do not think killing someone without their consent is appropriate, however each individual should be able to choose if they want to take their own life or not.
In my mind I'm for Euthanasia, but I don't know if I'd be able to make a decision like that about a loved one in the moment. It's hard for me to say that I am for or against something when I have never really been forced/exposed to a situation like that.
The thing is, I don't ascribe to the popular Christian notion that assisted suicide, euthanasia, is inherently a sin. Just like the distinction between murdering and killing, I don't think the choice to end your loved one's suffering is evil. I think it's a choice, and the consequences are more immediate than others, but still a choice nonetheless. Therefore, I think the intentions are important. Only God can really judge that ~~
"After a couple of days, the patient falls into a coma and is being kept
alive by medical machinery. The family of this patient has tried
everything and spent every single penny on the patient's treatment and
hospitalization"
Does this mean that in the good ol' US of A, poor people or those with poor relatives are left to die? It is almost obscene to see this written casually as if it is the most normal thing in the universe; and on a post about euthanasia. I would suggest that any society that treats people like the Americans do, has a long way to go before discussing the dignity of life.
@Captric@xanga - It's called the Socratic method and it has been used as an effective learning and teaching tool for millenia.
I think it would be ok if the person signed a DNR already.
@sometimestheycomebackanyway@xanga - "
But what if the State defined suffering as not having the correct ideology and decided it would institutionalize and then euthanize all people who were suffering in that way?"
Wh...what? What does this have to do with euthanasia? Are you trying to apply a slippery slope argument from euthanasia to eugenics?
@When_We_Were_Both_Cats@xanga - Euthanasia means putting people out of their misery because they are suffering.
Once it becomes legal than the government must jump in to regulate it.And when did the government ever not use the law to empower itself and guard its interests?
You people need to start thinking. You take freedom for granted and have no idea that politicians work day and night to deprive us of our money and our liberty.
As for what As for physical pain, there are morphines and other pain killers. There
are tranquilizers for anxiety and I don't know what else. Tell me what
can't be treated with medicine. (If the consequnece of these things that
improve life quality is a sooner death that is one thing.) As for what
the person WANTS you don't know.
The only proof you have of it helping is that it helps the people who want to get rid of the sick one.
@sometimestheycomebackanyway@xanga - is right. I amost believe the voters themselves are the main problem, because too many people are secretly social darwinists and have a half-baked philosophy of utiliterianism. But we need to protect those who aren't/don't. The idea that doctors should save lives and not end them and simply that one should not murder other people are huge hurdles, whereas the definition of who "suffers enough to get killed" is very subjective. Who is into suicide prevention programs here?:..hypocrites. Everyone who is depressed can get euthanised. After all, their depression might not be treatable 100% and thus is a "terminal illness". Just like bipolar and schizophrenia and being born without legs or with a heart failure.
I think there is a difference between pulling the plug and lethal injections. I don't see how anyone could say that passive euthanasia is immoral as long as it is voluntary. Why should someone take medicine, accept treatment, or continue to live only because of a machine if they are ready to just end the pain? They are still dying a natural death. Active euthanasia is another story, and I can understand why someone, especially a Christian, would be adamantly against it. I'm not even sure how I feel about it, even though we often practice it with our pets. It's tough when you have your loved one crying out, begging for death, wanting a lethal injection to just end the pain already instead of waiting for whatever to kill them.
@sometimestheycomebackanyway@xanga - This isn't a problem in any of the European countries with legalized euthanasia.
Also, the government keeping a right away from us isn't an example of expanding freedom, but restricting it.
@When_We_Were_Both_Cats@xanga - There isn't a problem of the sort I'm talking about in Europe today because the United States bombed it to smithereens back in the 1940s.
That conflict was called World War II. And the NAZI were doing exactly what I'm complaining about. And after them, the Soviets did exactly that too.Further, this is America. And America is the greatest nation in human history because we recognize that human rights come from God, not from government.
Since the right to life is an unalienable God-endowed right, it absolutely must not be regulated by the government unless the objective is to install a ruthless, murderous tyranny.
Good death...most of the time.
Although "pulling the plug" technically is euthanasia, almost everyone could be kept "alive" on a heart/lung machine indefinitely - remember Terri Schiavo? Seriously, can you imagine the healthcare costs if we hooked everyone who was dying up to a heart/lung machine indefinitely?!? Besides, the way it is now in America you get to stay alive that way for as long as your estate/family can pay the hospital expenses - meaning if you don't have the money you're going to be pulled off that machine quick regardless of what your wishes were when conscious. God is already out of the picture in that scenario, it's about the money.
I do not understand Christians. Constantly talking about how unworthy they are in God's eyes, yet how special they are because God "saved them". Talking about how this life is a trial of suffering in order to gain entrance into the eternal paradise God has promised them after they die, and yet doing everything in their power not to die and trade in this evil world for a perfect paradise.
I watched my grandfather suffer for years with Alzheimer's, and then lung cancer. He was gone years before he died. He didn't know who he was, or who anyone else was, his mind was gone and he was in massive pain from lung cancer. We would never put our pets through that kind of suffering. Do you get an extra halo if you're in agonizing pain at the end of your life and you stick it out until "God decides" you're ready? Do you really think an all-loving, merciful God will damn your soul to hell for all eternity because you upped the morphine in your last living days and checked out early rather than suffer agonizing pain any longer? If that's really what God expects and wants from people, then God is a sadistic bastard.
@When_We_Were_Both_Cats@xanga - are you a vegan? if not, you are not doing enough to ease suffering
@ShimmerBodyCream@xanga - do you think killing animals without their consent it OK?
@JesusWillEatYourFace@xanga - No, definitely not.
@ShimmerBodyCream@xanga - thank you for your compassion!
Isn't it also playing God keeping the person on alive on machines...since the machines are technically "man made" and without them the individual would pass away?
@davesprettylady@xanga - This is what I actually came here to say. I don't understand the whole "We shouldn't play God" argument, because that's exactly what you're doing when you use extraordinary measures to keep someone alive. You're playing God. You're saying that no, this person will not die today, not because God says so, but because I say so.
I am in favor of physician assisted suicide, because frankly, if I'm trapped in a hospital where my quality of life is pretty much non-existent, I want to be able to leave it in peace, not suffering and in pain. I have also expressed to my parents that I would never want to be kept alive as a vegetable, if the situation were such that I was not conscious to make the decision for myself. Basically, if a person is capable of saying for themselves that they want to be allowed to die, or if the person is incapable, but has specified through a living will that those are their wishes, they should have every right to do so.
We play god every day with things like modern medicine and technology, so I really don't think that's a valid argument against it. If there is a god, who are you to assume that you know God's will?