Is Euthanasia Morally Wrong?

[LukeyLuke]

While considering the teachings within the Bible (or not, if you aren't Christian) and/or the medical implications of a patient thinking of euthanasia, is euthanasia morally wrong? Explain your reasoning.

[Haven]

Approaching this from a secular perspective, I find euthanasia morally acceptable because it eliminates suffering from an individual suffering from a terminal disease. No one should ever be forced to suffer from a terminal illness against his will; people have the right to die as well as the right to live.

[JoeyKnothead]

From the OP:

Is euthanasia morally wrong?

Only for those who don't want to be euthanated.

Those who propose their god is or isn't cool with it would have one heckuva time showing such to be the case.

[Flail]

While considering the teachings within the Bible (or not, if you aren't Christian) and/or the medical implications of a patient thinking of euthanasia, is euthanasia morally wrong? Explain your reasoning.

I used to wonder about this, but not any more. My wife works extensively with Alzheimers patients; she sees them in nursing homes. Most of them are in their eighties or nineties; they have no idea who they are or where they are; some of them suffer tremendously, they cry out in pain, they blubber, they shake and tremble, they defecate themselves, they choke on their own spit....so yeah, I think it is morally reprehensible that we can not terminate their pathetic lives and end their suffering. If there is a God, He must be ashamed of us for not helping them end suffering.

[Moses Yoder]

Suicide is illegal I think in every state in the US and in most countries, although I think it may be legal in Ireland. The punishment for suicide is life imprisonment, for attempted suicide they hang you. Seriously though, if suicide is illegal why would euthanasia be legal? My neighbor's son had just finished college with some fancy degree when his girlfriend left him. He decided life was no longer worth living and killed himself. Isn't that a waste?

I think if I had some incurable disease that caused me to live in great pain, I would kill myself. I wouldn't make somebody else make that decision for me. In all other cases, such as simple depression, I have learned to live with depression; I am bipolar. Depression is easy.

So far as euthanasia goes, I can see not taking great measures to keep someone alive if they don't have much going for them, and simply allowing them to die. But I can't see making someone else kill me if I decide I don't want to live any more. I can't state exactly why, other than the belief that human life is sacred. And the biggest problem would be having other people tell me I should die.

My wife's grandfather is in his 90's, in pretty good health except for colon cancer which they are going to operate on. He is concerned about the operation; I am not sure why. He has had a good life, but for some reason wants to go on living. It would save the government a lot of money if they simply killed him instead of operating on the cancer.

[Flail]

Suicide is illegal I think in every state in the US and in most countries, although I think it may be legal in Ireland. The punishment for suicide is life imprisonment, for attempted suicide they hang you. Seriously though, if suicide is illegal why would euthanasia be legal? My neighbor's son had just finished college with some fancy degree when his girlfriend left him. He decided life was no longer worth living and killed himself. Isn't that a waste?

I think if I had some incurable disease that caused me to live in great pain, I would kill myself. I wouldn't make somebody else make that decision for me. In all other cases, such as simple depression, I have learned to live with depression; I am bipolar. Depression is easy.

So far as euthanasia goes, I can see not taking great measures to keep someone alive if they don't have much going for them, and simply allowing them to die. But I can't see making someone else kill me if I decide I don't want to live any more. I can't state exactly why, other than the belief that human life is sacred. And the biggest problem would be having other people tell me I should die.

My wife's grandfather is in his 90's, in pretty good health except for colon cancer which they are going to operate on. He is concerned about the operation; I am not sure why. He has had a good life, but for some reason wants to go on living. It would save the government a lot of money if they simply killed him instead of operating on the cancer.

Suicide informed by mental illness is treatable. Severe demential caused by Alzheimers in the elderly which has resulted in them forgetting who or where they are and how to brush their teeth, speak or think for themselves is another matter entirely. They don't know what suicide is nor would they have any idea or ability to accomplish such an act to end their suffering.

[LukeyLuke]

After considering the question if a person should still strive to live despite suffering on the basis that life is sacred, I came to a certain conclusion that, as a Christian, seems viable for the use of euthanasia. I would particularly consider the medical implications of the procedure but on the basis that one is practically robbed of a full life if the consequences should occur, while also backing that with set morals. Consider the following coming from point of view of a family member as the decision maker, as it so happens to be many times which Flail indirectly pointed to in his last post. In my opinion, it would rather be better for the patient who has ceased to live to be with the Lord, which is specifically my own personal perspective, than to be mentally and physically incapable in forms of being stagnant and not self-sustaining, as in hygiene and health. With this being said, euthanasia is not wrong. It would be wrong if the family decided to not sign the statement if they were not willing to let him go despite knowing of his disabled and incapable position, which would, in turn, be an act of selfishness. Now consider the point of view from the capable patient before the surgery. If he signs the 'do not revive' statement out of the motive of not wanting to live, which resembles suicide, he is making a selfish decision since he fails to consider the effects that this will have on his significant others. In this, I believe euthanasia is wrong. But it is not wrong when he considers the implications of such a surgery that could leave him incapable of taking care of or even thinking for himself and decides that it would be more beneficial to his family if they used their efforts and funds on more productive endeavors such as investments into education and the likes.

Since the specific focus on euthanasia is if the morals behind it deem it as right or wrong, I believe caring/helping for others is valid in this context. Or is it not, since it is still the patient's own life?

[Mr. LongView]

Just the final pill to take away your pain. (Usually a juice type substance.)

[Bust Nak]

While considering the teachings within the Bible (or not, if you aren't Christian) and/or the medical implications of a patient thinking of euthanasia, is euthanasia morally wrong? Explain your reasoning.

Voluntary euthanasia is better than suicide in every way, gets medical expert in the process, evaluate the mental health of the individual, to ensure it is indeed the uncoerced will of the person.

As for involuntary euthanasia, in the case where the sufferer is incapable of making a decision, just like any medical decision, it's up to the nearest kin on the advice of medical staff. I don't see much difference between this and "pulling the plug."

[bluethread]

The Chinese must think so, they have that one child policy.