Euthanasia: All Christians/Non invited to discuss

[Enquirer]

As per topic,

Where do we draw the line? What is permissable and what is not?

Opinions?

[macko]

Hei, though I not a believer in existence of God, we shall not kill even though that person is dying, let him or her die slowly instead.

If I remember correctly, isn't there 1 commandment in the bible - Thou shall not kill?

[Seraph]

“I will neither give a deadly drug to anybody if asked for it, nor will I make a suggestion to this effect.” The Hippocratic Oath.

"Euthanasia" comes from the Greek meaning "pleasant death". The word was evidently chosen with a view to consumer appeal because it expresses nothing of the scientific concept involved, which would suggest a quite different term — administered death. Perhaps the most common misunderstanding in the debate about euthanasia concerns what euthanasia actually is. Euthanasia is not the turning off of machines in intensive care units which may be artificially prolonging the dying process. With euthanasia, if the first dose of toxic ‘medication’ was not sufficient to ‘terminate’ the patient, then higher and higher doses would be given until the patient was dead.

Modern medicine has all but abandoned the principle of the sanctity of human life that Hippocrates enunciated. The truth is that people have lost their sense of what it means to be human, which is found in the Genesis account of man being made in God’s image. Life, instead of being a precious gift, becomes evaluated according to its ‘quality.’ A person whilst young, active and productive has a high ‘quality of life’, yet once this person becomes old, disabled or dependent, the quality is reduced, and his or her life may no longer be considered to be worth living or protecting. Without the possibility of recovery, disability or dependence on others become grounds for the termination of that person’s life.


When people are sick, especially when they are terminally ill, they may at times want to die. But in almost all circumstances such feelings are a reflection of an underlying depression or a response to isolation or loneliness or pain, all of which have solutions other than killing the patient. It is only in very rare circumstances that pain cannot be adequately relieved. Thus, requests for euthanasia are very often a cry for help and should not be taken at face value. Often the initial shock of the diagnosis and the fear of the disease process may be overwhelming. To offer lethal injection as a solution to these problems robs these people of the chance to deal with their new life situation and brings a terrible burden of guilt to their families. Every day in our hospitals, decisions are made concerning patients’ lives. Should this patient be treated for his renal failure? Should that patient be resuscitated if she suffered a heart attack? Should this patient receive any treatment at all, or should even food and water be withdrawn from this patient because he has dementia? More and more doctors are deciding whether or not to treat patients on the basis of whether they believe the patient’s life is worth living, not on the basis of their intrinsic value as human beings.


What does the Bible have to say about euthanasia? God has ‘anointed’ all life as sacred: Genesis 9:6 says, ‘Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.’ Thus only God, not any man, has the right to take away life, except where God has delegated that authority. If God has given life, man has no right to take it away, not even his own. Euthanasia therefore violates God's holy law and will bring God's judgment upon any society permitting it. The Christian church, and indeed society in general, should never accept the lie that euthanasia represents ‘a good death.’ Euthanasia, in its real sense, represents a profound rejection of the gift of life, and hence of the Giver Himself. Instead, there should be a recognition that man, being made in the image of God, has intrinsic value and dignity from conception to natural death.

(Note: The above is extracted from readings I have made of which I am in full agreement with.)

[Vincent]

Hi Seraph

Thanks for your kind explanation on Euthanasia. I was thinking of researching on Euthanasia and post the description here.

I am kind of in the center on this Euthanasia. This is because I was wondering what if my loved ones is dying of cancer and cancer being cancer is very painful. Should I pull the plug and save my loved ones from suffering the pain or should I not pull the plug and let my loved ones keep suffering the pain non-stop till he or she dies? I really don't know. Kind of confused too.

[Seraph]

Originally Posted by Vincent

Hi Seraph

Thanks for your kind explanation on Euthanasia. I was thinking of researching on Euthanasia and post the description here.

I am kind of in the center on this Euthanasia. This is because I was wondering what if my loved ones is dying of cancer and cancer being cancer is very painful. Should I pull the plug and save my loved ones from suffering the pain or should I not pull the plug and let my loved ones keep suffering the pain non-stop till he or she dies? I really don't know. Kind of confused too.

Even though cancer is painful yet there are many advances in medicine that may offer relief from pain. In fact, even in the midst of pain and suffering one can know joy and peace, paradoxical but true! The most important thing is to be with our loved ones and stay with them till God takes them home, then we will know that they are truly happy there and we will one day see them in heaven. One day in the future the curse will be lifted and there will be no more tears!

[Enquirer]

Let's use an example.

If a person is in a vegetative state. He/she can only survive on artificial feeding and machines to breathe. Doctors have made a moral judgement that this will be the only state that person can be in the rest of his/her life.

Do you think it is considered euthanasia for anyone to pull the plug.

[Vincent]

Hi Seraph

No offense to your views on that there are advances in medicine to relieve pain. I have 1 aunty who died of cancer and 2 friends suffering cancer. Before she died, my aunty was in pain constantly without relief, in fact, she kept asking us when will she die, she told us she is in pain all the time, cannot sleep, want to vomit, headache, dizzy etc.. My 2 friends told me that it is very painful and hope to die quickly.

I have no words for them. I don't know what to say to relieve their pain. I dare not tell them God is watching over them, I look with despair and frankly without faith that God is with them.

[Enquirer]

Originally Posted by Vincent

Hi Seraph

No offense to your views on that there are advances in medicine to relieve pain. I have 1 aunty who died of cancer and 2 friends suffering cancer. Before she died, my aunty was in pain constantly without relief, in fact, she kept asking us when will she die, she told us she is in pain all the time, cannot sleep, want to vomit, headache, dizzy etc.. My 2 friends told me that it is very painful and hope to die quickly.

I have no words for them. I don't know what to say to relieve their pain. I dare not tell them God is watching over them, I look with despair and frankly without faith that God is with them.

Hi Vincent,

I understand what you mean. It is difficult indeed. These are the things that we all must think hard about.

[Seraph]

Originally Posted by Vincent

Hi Seraph

No offense to your views on that there are advances in medicine to relieve pain. I have 1 aunty who died of cancer and 2 friends suffering cancer. Before she died, my aunty was in pain constantly without relief, in fact, she kept asking us when will she die, she told us she is in pain all the time, cannot sleep, want to vomit, headache, dizzy etc.. My 2 friends told me that it is very painful and hope to die quickly.

I have no words for them. I don't know what to say to relieve their pain. I dare not tell them God is watching over them, I look with despair and frankly without faith that God is with them.

A few years ago my aunt died from cancer too. Yet throughout the entire ordeal she kept her eyes on God and spoke a lot about God's grace. Pain relief will be the job of the doctors, not ours. We can only provide moral support through it. No doubt it saddens our hearts to see how cancer (a result of the fallen world we live in) can ravage a person but we need to encourage believers with God's Word. Reading God's Word brings comfort, faith and hope, peace and joy.

[macko]

Told you, Vincent, that God doesn't exist, see you are even having doubts that God exist when faced with cancer relatives and friends.

Seraph, what grace is there when you are dying in pain? If I am in pain like cancer before I die, the last thing I will think about is God but instead may be cursing God or asking God "Why God" "Why Me?" "You mean there are no others but me to suffer?" that is provided one day I believe God exist.

Enquirer asks "If a person is in a vegetative state. He/she can only survive on artificial feeding and machines to breathe. Doctors have made a moral judgement that this will be the only state that person can be in the rest of his/her life.

Do you think it is considered euthanasia for anyone to pull the plug. "

I say don't pull the plug and let that person suffered, then tell him God wants him to suffer before he dies..... what kind of God is that? It is really nature state of dying, God doesn't exist, why can't you guys see that????