The euthanasia question

[Cristo Rei]

Proverbs 31:6

I have always found this verse interesting, considering euthanasia, particularly because death is a process of dehydration and alcohol, of any kind, is a diuretic. So, if God is condoning the giving of it to relieve the pain and suffering of the dying, it seems to me - in light of the science, that He is condoning helping them along in a very caring manner with a substance that He knows good and well will not only ease their stress, and possibly heighten their mood, but will also move them along toward their final end.

Yes that is an interesting passage

 

[Cristo Rei]

It's assisted suicide and murder any way you shake a stick at it.

Have you considered some of the examples given such as post #8?

 

[Cristo Rei]

Not many people are aware that there are two types of euthanasia....passive and active.
For the terminally ill who have no quality of life and are enduring much physical and emotional suffering, there is a way to end life without breaking either God's law or man's.

Those who are existing on pain meds and see no point in continuing to die an inch at a time, passive euthanasia is an option. It simply means to withdraw all artificial means of life support and allowing nature to take its course. God does not want us to suffer unnecessarily, so why prolong a life that is not worth living?

My husband chose this option and his doctor supported him and provided him with pain relief but nothing else. It was his decision to stop eating and drinking, and his body simply shut down and he lapsed into unconsciousness and died peacefully with all his family with him. It was a blessed relief for him.....but it was also his choice....not ours.

I believe that more attention needs to be drawn to this option......if we can be prosecuted for not putting a suffering animal to "sleep" what is accomplished by putting a loved one through unnecessary suffering if we have the means to end it peacefully....and legally?

Ok so you explained passive euthanasia. Then what is active euthanasia? When a drug is taken to end a life, i guess?

 

[Cristo Rei]

Ok after going through this thread i think that passive euthanasia is ok. When you do nothing and let nature take its course.
Im still not sure about active euthanasia but i feel that is wrong.
I hope i don't have to make such decisions one day but God give me the strength to overcome it and the wisdom to make the right choice

 

[JohnPaul]

Have you considered some of the examples given such as post #8?

If the body has to be kept alive on a machine and the person is braindead and doesn't know she is alive but is in a vegetable state, then maybe it would just be best to let the person go, if there is no absolute chance of curing or treating that person and the person cannot talk or open their eyes, then that person is basically dead already, and its not assisted suicide or murder but letting God take this person.

 

[Cristo Rei]

If the body has to be kept alive on a machine and the person is braindead and doesn't know she is alive but is in a vegetable state, then maybe it would just be best to let the person go, if there is no absolute chance of curing or treating that person and the person cannot talk or open their eyes, then that person is basically dead already, and its not assisted suicide or murder but letting God take this person.

Someone made a distinction between passive and active euthanasia.
Its a tough question but I think passive euthanasia is ok but not active euthanasia

 

[JohnPaul]

Ok after going through this thread i think that passive euthanasia is ok. When you do nothing and let nature take its course.
Im still not sure about active euthanasia but i feel that is wrong.
I hope i don't have to make such decisions one day but God give me the strength to overcome it and the wisdom to make the right choice

I don't see it as euthanasia if the person goes away naturally without any assistance by using a drug to kill the person.

 

[Cristo Rei]

I don't see it as euthanasia if the person goes away naturally without any assistance by using a drug to kill the person.

Neither did I but apparently that's passive euthanasia

 

[JohnPaul]

Neither did I but apparently that's passive euthanasia

People always have to put a name on things, sorry I don't see it that way.

 

[Cristo Rei]

People always have to put a name on things, sorry I don't see it that way.

Let's find some definitions

 

[Cristo Rei]

Let's find some definitions

Marriage Webster says

the act or practice of killing or permitting the death of hopelessly sick or injured individuals (such as persons or domestic animals) in a relatively painless way for reasons of mercy

"Permitting the death"
I think that's passive euthanasia

 

[Dropship]

Food for thought-
"On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years.
She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.” Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.
Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue leader said to the people, “There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath.”
The Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Doesn’t each of you on the Sabbath untie your ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water?
Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?” (Luke 13:10-16)

Jesus therefore points the finger squarely at satan for making humans suffer, and he set her free from her malady, so if someone is terminally ill and suffering, perhaps it's our duty to set their souls free with euthanasia rather than let satan go on hurting them?

 

[JohnPaul]

Let's find some definitions

I found one:

• Hastening the death of a person by altering some form of support and letting nature take its course is known as passive euthanasia . Examples include such things as turning off respirators, halting medications, discontinuing food and water so as to allowing a person to dehydrate or starve to death, or failure to resuscitate.

legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Euthanasia, passive

 

[JohnPaul]

Marriage Webster says

the act or practice of killing or permitting the death of hopelessly sick or injured individuals (such as persons or domestic animals) in a relatively painless way for reasons of mercy

"Permitting the death"
I think that's passive euthanasia

You mean Merriam-Webster?

 

[Cristo Rei]

@JohnPaul

Cambridge says

the act of killing someone who is very ill or very old so that they do not suffer any more:

That does not suggest passive euthanasia but sounds more like active euthanasia

So we have two different definitions.
My first thought was like yours, active euthanasia.
I suppose it's debatable if letting someone go or pulling the plug is considered euthanasia

 

[Cristo Rei]

You mean Merriam-Webster?

Ye lol. Damn auto correct

 

[Cristo Rei]

I found one:

• Hastening the death of a person by altering some form of support and letting nature take its course is known as passive euthanasia . Examples include such things as turning off respirators, halting medications, discontinuing food and water so as to allowing a person to dehydrate or starve to death, or failure to resuscitate.

legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Euthanasia, passive

A long definition but it has passive in there.
I wonder what definition they use in courts

 

[Cristo Rei]

Food for thought-
"On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years.
She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.” Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.
Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue leader said to the people, “There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath.”
The Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Doesn’t each of you on the Sabbath untie your ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water?
Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?” (Luke 13:10-16)

Jesus therefore points the finger squarely at satan for making humans suffer, and he set her free from her malady, so if someone is terminally ill and suffering, perhaps it's our duty to set their souls free with euthanasia rather than let satan go on hurting them?

True. JP and I are trying to define euthanasia.

We tend to think only an active action is euthanasia and not a passive one like your example. I'm still not sure

 

[Cristo Rei]

@JohnPaul @Dropship

Oxford agrees with us

the practice of killing without pain a person or animal who is suffering from a disease that cannot be cured. Euthanasia of people is illegal in most countries.

To be fair we've found definitions that include passive euthanasia and ones that dont

 

[dhh712]

As I mentioned earlier, the actor Brian Rix was opposed to euthanasia until he became seriously ill, then quickly changed his mind.

Because he stated concretely what he would do (I imagine--as you say he opposed euthanasia then it is likely he spoke in very strong terms either condemning those who choose it or saying he would not himself) in a situation that is very trying and unbearable to everyone. That is asking God to test you as to what you have stated; and he was found to be relying on his own strength and not God's (not sure if he was a believer, but if he was then God did not give him the strength to overcome his temptation; if he did go through with the euthanasia).

No one should ever say what they would do in circumstances that are trying, unless they have been there before. We can look at the example of Peter: "Lord, I will never deny you. Even though all these others would, I would die with you." Hours later... "He cursed himself and said, 'I don't know the man!'" Never say what you would do in a situation you have never been in. Your words very well may be tried. God may give you the strength, or in his infinite wisdom he may not.