Does opposing euthanasia only make sense in the context of faith?

[Robyn_p]

Thank-you Robin p for the link.
It was most helpful to me. I am involved in such a discussion on a cancer support site.

I am a stage IV esophageal cancer and stage IIIb uterine cancer. Twice the Drs. have set an expiration date. The last expiration date was last month. But when I went for scans and blood tests they could find no cancer. Both times I did prepare for my death. I knew that I wanted to live as long as possible even if that meant a lot of pain. I did not want any pain-killers that did not extend life. And I definately would not sign a DNR. :bigyikes: Did I get the flack. I feel great pressure from the medical professionals and I know if I were in Oregon or Washington I would feel even greater pressure.
When those medical professionals your family needs “death with dignity” , I say does that mean that I die naked and covered with blood" When they say “No” I point to the cross (the only jewelry I wear) and say “Well that is my idea of Death with Dignity”

What a beautiful witness. Thank you for sharing that.

 

[Jerurussia]

**How’s about bringing back the Hippocratic Oath, which was withdrawn from medical schools? **

I swear by Apollo Physician and Asclepius and Hygieia and Panaceia and all the gods and goddesses, making them my witnesses, that I will fulfil according to my ability and judgment this oath and this covenant:

To hold him who has taught me this art as equal to my parents and to live my life in partnership with him, and if he is in need of money to give him a share of mine, and to regard his offspring as equal to my brothers in male lineage and to teach them this art - if they desire to learn it - without fee and covenant; to give a share of precepts and oral instruction and all the other learning to my sons and to the sons of him who has instructed me and to pupils who have signed the covenant and have taken an oath according to the medical law, but no one else.

I will apply dietetic measures for the benefit of the sick according to my ability and judgment; I will keep them from harm and injustice.

I will neither give a deadly drug to anybody who asked for it, nor will I make a suggestion to this effect. Similarly I will not give to a woman an abortive remedy. In purity and holiness I will guard my life and my art.

I will not use the knife, not even on sufferers from stone, but will withdraw in favor of such men as are engaged in this work.

Whatever houses I may visit, I will come for the benefit of the sick, remaining free of all intentional injustice, of all mischief and in particular of sexual relations with both female and male persons, be they free or slaves.

What I may see or hear in the course of the treatment or even outside of the treatment in regard to the life of men, which on no account one must spread abroad, I will keep to myself, holding such things shameful to be spoken about.

If I fulfil this oath and do not violate it, may it be granted to me to enjoy life and art, being honored with fame among all men for all time to come; if I transgress it and swear falsely, may the opposite of all this be my lot.
Translation from the Greek by Ludwig Edelstein. From The Hippocratic Oath: Text, Translation, and Interpretation, by Ludwig Edelstein. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins Press, 1943.*

 

[pacomius]

studying philosophy i learned many logical arguments for and against euthanasia; but the first question is why would one want to answer a question outside reference to faith? i will rather subject all my answers to the scrutiny of faith clinging tightly to the words of saint Paul that the wisdom of men is foolishness; and yes it is true. who will not be convinced by a faith-based discourse will neither be convinced by a logical concatenation. i am fully convinced that this is true.

 

[HerCrazierHalf]

studying philosophy i learned many logical arguments for and against euthanasia; but the first question is why would one want to answer a question outside reference to faith?

Who’s faith? Presumably the OP is referring to someone without faith. Or what about those who interpret their faith differently than you on these issues?

 

[Non_Serviam]

I read a brief article on this subject recently, but can’t find it in my history, so I’ll just post the gist of it from memory. The individual said that apart from religious reasons to oppose euthanasia, they didn’t have any reason to oppose it in theory.

In practice, they said that even without faith-based reasons they would continue to oppose it because whomever would be tasked with approving the euthanasia request would have no way to be certain that there wasn’t some coercion affecting the person making the request (much like many women are “encouraged” to consider sterilization or abortion in many circumstances) or that the person lacked capacity to make an objective decision due to depression or some other condition.

To me, the onus would then be on those lobbying for euthanasia to answer these challenges before they could advocate for the concept. Personally I don’t think they could provide an answer that would ensure that coercion or limited capacity never occurred.

 

[Barbara_Ann_Bau]

Beautifully said. When I thought I was dying, I got the Anointing of the Sick and was prayed for.

Deceptive packaging with a nice sounding label are not arguments.

I doubt the average person is more familiar with the word euthanasia than the marketing phrase, “Death with Dignity.” I’ve dealt with terminal patients. I transported bodies to the morgue. Assisted Suicide is still suicide. I have been suicidal twice and I know how it feels.

What is Death with Dignity? First, where is the lack of dignity when dying from a terminal illness? Caregivers are caregivers. When they are encouraged to cross the line and kill others through overdose or lethal injection, that is wrong.

Peace,
Ed

You are so right death by overdose of lethal injection is not a dignified death. No human should die that way whether terminal or criminal