Bob Prichard

Topic(s):Moral Issues,  Pain & Suffering

Euthanasia refers to the taking of life, supposedly to end suffering. The word comes from the Greek word eu meaning “well,” and thanatos, meaning “death,” originally meaning the “art and discipline of dying in peace and dignity.” Recent usage applies it to the practice of causing painless death, especially to those suffering from painful, incurable diseases. It is sometimes called “mercy killing,” or “assisted suicide.”

The principle of the sanctity of all human life stands firmly in opposition to euthanasia. God said to Noah, “Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man” (Genesis 9:6). The sixth commandment warned “Thou shalt not kill,” literally “Thou shalt not murder” (Exodus 20:13). Romans 13:9 repeats the prohibition of murder to the church.

The principles for promoting euthanasia are very flimsy. Proponents assume that the dying have a responsibility to “get out of the way of the living,” rather than receive the compassion of the living. They assume that all suffering is a pointless evil, and that the only reality worth considering is that which we see, denying any value to suffering. But James says, “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing” (James 1:2-4). They also assume that what is done by, or to an individual does not effect anyone else. Paul reminds us, however, that “none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself” (Romans 14:7).

Euthanasia can be either voluntary or involuntary. Voluntary euthanasia includes hastening death actively by medical practice or passively by withholding or abandoning medical care, all with the consent of the ill person. Involuntary euthanasia means causing or hastening the death of those who cannot, or do not give permission for death, such as the comatose, senile, and infants. Involuntary euthanasia was common in Nazi Germany, and is continued today in the practice of abortion. Euthanasia is legal in the Netherlands, where involuntary euthanasia seems to be growing. With the legalization of euthanasia, the motives of those who will practice euthanasia may easily move from “compassion” to greed. (If, for instance, the children become tired of waiting for their inheritance from parents in the nursing home or hospital, they could push for euthanasia of their parents, and murder them under cover of legal euthanasia.)

Since medical science is often unable to know when a person is terminally ill, and can usually give some relief for pain, surely we must honor life. “The LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul” (Genesis 2:7). Although the alleviation of suffering is a noble goal, man does not have the right to practice “mercy killing” in the guise of euthanasia or “physician assisted suicide.”