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Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide

Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide. Overview. Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide is an ongoing issue around the world Fear that medical advancements no longer allow death to be a serene moment, instead prolonging death Excellent example of the effects of moral relativism. Definitions.

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Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide

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  1. Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide

  2. Overview • Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide is an ongoing issue around the world • Fear that medical advancements no longer allow death to be a serene moment, instead prolonging death • Excellent example of the effects of moral relativism

  3. Definitions • Active Euthanasia: Deliberate killing of someone with the intention of ending all suffering • Passive Euthanasia: withholding or withdrawing life support, nutrition, or water without a person’s consent, with the specific intention of ending that person’s life

  4. Definitions Con’t • Assisted Suicide: providing a person with the means to end his/her life • Doctor-Assisted Death: physician-assisted suicide and active euthanasia performed by a physician

  5. The Church’s Stance • Euthanasia and Doctor-Assisted Suicide is ALWAYS wrong • The good of the sanctity of human life, that life that God bestowed on us, can never be sacrificed for the sake of the good self-determination • Against the 6th Commandment, “Thou shall not kill”

  6. Dignity of Human Life • Life is always good and may never be taken • “Human life is sacred because from its beginning it involves the creative action of God and it remains for ever in a special relationship with the Creator, who is its sole end. God alone is the Lord of life from its beginning until its end: no one can under any circumstance claim for himself the right directly to destroy an innocent human being.” CCC 2258

  7. Misconception that Leads to Euthanasia • Judgment that life is not worth living • Arrogant view that has lead to lives being taken throughout history • Euthanasia and Suicide • Murder • Genocide

  8. Declining “extraordinary measures” • Euthanizing and forgoing extraordinary measures are two separate issues • Extraordinary measures: any measures that are disproportionate to the expected results OR measures that impose an excessive burden on the patient and family

  9. Ordinary vs. Extraordinary • Anything not primarily considered ordinary medical care • Consider these factors: • Degree of complexity • Amount of risk involved • Cost and accessibility • State of the sick person • His resources • Proper nourishment (food and water) • Ordinary medical care: • Offer reasonable hope of benefit • Are not unduly burdensome to the patient or family

  10. Declining Extraordinary Measures con’t • The person is placing himself in God’s hands and prepares to leave this life • Maintains ordinary means of health care

  11. Imminent and Inevitable Death • One can, in good conscience, “refuse forms of treatment that would only secure a precarious and burdensome prolongation of life, so long as the normal care due to the sick person in similar cases is not interrupted” (Evangelium Viate, n65)

  12. Pain Relievers • Pain relievers are a morally acceptable way of subduing suffering • Some choose not to take pain relievers • Pain relief is still acceptable even if it has the secondary, but not intended, effect of hastening the end of life

  13. Example… • A person is dying of cancer which has metastasized throughout his body. The disease causes the man to go into a coma and he must be fed intravenously and use a respirator. His kidneys fail and it becomes clear that the situation is not reversible • Medical technology is not providing any hope of recovery or benefit at this point; it is prolonging death • The respirator has now become an extraordinary measure, so turning it off would be morally acceptable.

  14. But isn’t it better to end suffering? • No one enjoys suffering, nor should anyone wish for someone to experience it • We must remember that we have been baptized into Christ’s passion, death and resurrection • We share in our Lord’s cross, and that may be very painful at times • We are united with Christ with our suffering

  15. Suffering con’t • It is VERY difficult to understand the purpose of suffering • But…by uniting our suffering with Christ’s, we expiate (atone—make amends) the hurt caused by our sins and help expiate the sins of others • Sometimes suffering will finally heal the wounds that have divided families

  16. Death is NOT the end • Faith in the resurrected Lord teaches us that while we live on earth, it is not our abiding home. • St. Francis of Assisi spoke of “Sister Death” as a friend who carries us from this life to the Father’s house. • We should not fear death

  17. Some Consequences of Euthanasia and Doctor-Assisted Suicide • The vulnerable may be pressured to to seek an earlier death by third parties • Danger may increase as health resources decrease or become more expensive

  18. Consequences con’t • The role of the physician and trust in him would be undermined • Palliative care would be marginalized

  19. Consequences con’t • How is suffering defined? What about the depressed, infirm, frail, etc.

  20. Consequences con’t • Diminish respect for human life • Erode the basic trust that human life will be protected • Essential trust to have for the functioning of any society

  21. The Hippocratic Oath (350 B.C.) • “…I will neither give a deadly drug to anyone if asked for it, nor will I make a suggestion to this effect…” • “First, do no harm.”

  22. Social and Cultural Factors Affecting the Debate in the 1990s: • Secularism • Moral relativism • Radical personal autonomy • The growing AIDS epidemic • Families have fewer children • Emphasis on reducing the cost of healthcare

  23. Is euthanasia/assisted-suicide legal anywhere? • Netherlands (1984). In 1990, 9% of deaths were D.A.S. or euthanasia • Oregon: “Death with Dignity” Act (1997); Washington; Montana • Belgium: 2002 • Switzerland: euth. not legalized, doctors aren’t punished for D.A.S. • Northern Territory of Australia: 2006

  24. Won’t they regulate it? • “Regulations” are in place, but a ‘slippery slope’ occurs • Records are difficult to maintain and can be altered or not maintained • People argue that “suffering” is a relative term • When a person is unconscious, others are responsible for his/her decision

  25. Euthanasia Results in the Netherlands - Number of Cases in 1990

  26. http://www.pregnantpause.org/numbers/netheuth.htm

  27. Resources • http://www.leaderu.com/orgs/tul/ott-euthanasia.html#lessons • http://www.catholicenquiry.com/life-and-death/what-is-the-churchs-position-on-euthanasia.html • http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?id=307 • “Going to the House of the Father”. Ontario Conference of Catholic Bishops. April 2007 • COLF pamphlet entitled: Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide: Urgent Questions! • http://www.euthanasia.com/hollchart.html

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