Euthansia

• Euthanasia


  Assisting with the ending of life for a person who is terminally ill or has degenerative illness; often known as assisted suicide
• Euthanasia is not legal in the UK
• Reasons to agree with euthanasia


  • Christian arguments
  • Secular arguments
• Christian arguments for euthanasia


  • SITUATION ETHICS: May be the most loving thing to do in certain situations e.g. intolerable pain, degenerative illness
  • Jesus modelled love. Fletcher: Love is the only universal
  • COMPASSION: St Paul wrote about the importance of compassion - euthanasia may be the most compassionate option available, for example increasing pain and suffering
• Secular arguments for euthanasia


  • FREE WILL / AUTONOMY: John Stuart Mill wrote that 'over his own body and mind, the individual is sovereign'
• Palliative Care


  End-of-life Hospice care for those dying from terminal illness. Manage their pain and relieve their symptoms.
• Catholic Church advocates palliative care and therefore euthanasia is not needed
• Reasons to disagree with euthanasia


  • Christian arguments
  • Islamic arguments
  • Secular arguments
• Christian arguments against euthanasia


  • Taking life is always wrong
  • Sanctity of life
  • Catholic Church: a grave violation
• The 10 Commandments are clear 'Do not Kill'. This is not situational but universal.
• All life is worth living and holy. It belongs to God, who is sovereign master of life.
• Pope John Paul II teaches euthanasia is a grave violation and exploits suffering.
• Islamic arguments against euthanasia


  • Taking life is always wrong
  • God decides when you die
  • Sanctity of life
• Surah 4 is clear that taking life is always wrong.
• Surah 3 states that God decides when you die.
• Surah 2 states that all life is holy and from God.
• Secular arguments against euthanasia


  Slippery slope
• 'The right to die can so easily become a duty to die' (Peter Saunders). Devalues all human life?