Question about euthanasia

[CaliLobo]

We all know about the story of Brittany Maynard.

My understanding is that Catholics believe that since God gives life, only God can give it away, and that is why euthanasia is forbidden.

However, why is it okay to artificially extend life with medical technology? Isn’t that playing God?

 

[manualman]

Catholics understand death to be a negative consequence of sin, not a theological good intended by God from the beginning. Thus, we are morally free to work towards the good of healing our bodies when damaged or diseased. We accept the fact that eventually we will die, but are not compelled to treat it as ‘ordained from above’ in any particular individual circumstance.

Suicide is, by definition, a declaration with our body that life no longer has any positive meaning or significance. It throws the gift of life into God’s face and tells Him that it is a worthless gift. Every second we have is a precious gift for which we are to be thankful. Easy for me to say right now. Not so easy when I was passing my kidney stone. I can only imagine what it’s like for those in chronic, long term pain with no prognosis for a cure. And yet it still is true, even for those who don’t recognize it as such.

 

[bolinstephen]

Because all life comes from God and we are charged with taking care of it.

God can and does take away life, and God sometimes even commands people to take life away (Gen 9:6). Our extending people’s life medically is a consequence of us getting better at carrying out or mission of being stewards of the Earth, of life, and of each other.

 

[808Catholic]

We all know about the story of Brittany Maynard.

My understanding is that Catholics believe that since God gives life, only God can give it away, and that is why euthanasia is forbidden.

However, why is it okay to artificially extend life with medical technology? Isn’t that playing God?

God gave us gifts to be used in His Name. Some have the gift to be healers like St. Luke who was a Gentile physician when he was called by Jesus. St. Luke didn’t stop being a doctor just because he was called by Our Lord, his gift of medical knowledge was added to his vocation as an Apostle.

God gives us the gift of intelligence so it’s how we use that gift that’s important. Some use their talent to help others extend their lives while some use their medical gift to murder babies. Both have the same gift from God but they each use it for different purposes.

 

[didymus]

As to euthanasia, what about simply refusing medical treatment?
If the doctor says you’ve been diagnosed with A but we can do X, Y and Z with moderate chance of success are we allowed to just say no thanks?

 

[NoMondays]

Euthanasia is one of the truly “Gray area” topics not just in religious circles, but in every other type of life/death debate. It’s not simply black/white/always wrong/always right.
In certain cases, like Brittany’s, those diagnosed with inoperable terminal cancer, the person is going to die soon. Horrible pain, suffering, and things I don’t want to imagine can happen to her during the last few days/hours of her life. Therefore, it does seem logical and compassionate that she should at least have the option to end her life on her terms, if that makes any sense, rather than have to suffer unimaginable pain and horrid seizures/etc. So in her case, I tend to at least understand her point of view. And what about those that are “brain dead”, how long should they be kept “alive.”? It’s a very devisive issue and really needs more debate.

 

[oneofmany]

From what I have been taught the church sees suicide as a grave mortal sin. Some people don’t have any palliative care or family that supports them until the end so their suicide is more understandable when they can’t go on, but I think most people do have support systems in place when they have been under a doctor’s care.

That is why I see it as a mistake not to talk about hell anymore, people think pulling the plug on themselves mean they will go to heaven, so why hang around and suffer? Also, no one has to tell their doctor to keep treating them with every known treatment or if they see it isn’t doing any good. They can say I want to just be kept comfortable until the end.

Go to the Catholic bio-ethics web site and a Catholic doctor can explain these things better.