religion euthanasia essay

We have a right to die with dignity. The medical profession has a duty to assist

Distinguished Professor of Philosophy and Director: Centre for Applied Ethics, Stellenbosch University

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Euthanasia represents one of the oldest issues in medical ethics. It is forbidden in the original Hippocratic Oath, and has consistently been opposed by most religious traditions since antiquity – other than, incidentally, abortion, which has only been formally banned by the Catholic Church since the middle of the 19th century.

Euthanasia is a wide topic with many dimensions. I will limit myself in this article to the issue of assisted death, which seems to me to be one of the most pressing issues of our time.

Desmond Tutu, emeritus archbishop of Cape Town, raised it again on his 85th birthday in an article in the Washington Post. He wrote:

I have prepared for my death and have made it clear that I do not wish to be kept alive at all costs. I hope I am treated with compassion and allowed to pass onto the next phase of life’s journey in the manner of my choice.

Assisted death can take the form of physician assisted suicide (PAS) . Here a suffering and terminal patient is assisted by a physician to gain access to a lethal substance which the patient himself or herself takes or administers. If incapable of doing so, the physician – on request of the patient – administers the lethal substance which terminates the patient’s life.

The latter procedure is also referred to as “voluntary active euthanasia” (VAE). I will not deal with the issue of involuntary euthanasia –where the suffering patient’s life is terminated without their explicit consent -– a procedure which, to my mind, is ethically much more problematic.

Passive form of euthanasia

The term “voluntary active euthanasia” suggests that there also is a passive form of euthanasia. It is passive in the sense that nothing is “actively” done to kill the patient, but that nothing is done to deter the process of dying either, and that the termination of life-support which is clearly futile, is permitted.

However, the moral significance of the distinction between “active” and “passive” euthanasia is increasingly questioned by ethicists. The reason simply is the credibility of arguing that administering a lethal agent is “active”, but terminating life support (for example switching off a ventilator) is “passive”. Both clearly are observable and describable actions, and both are the direct causes of the patient’s death.

There are a number of reasons for the opposition to physician assisted suicide or voluntary active euthanasia. The value bestowed on human life in all religious traditions and almost all cultures, such as the prohibition on murder is so pervasive that it is an element of common, and not statutory, law.

Objections from the medical profession to being seen or utilised as “killers” rather than saviours of human life, as well as the sometimes well-founded fear of the possible abuse of physician assisted suicide or voluntary active euthanasia, is a further reason. The main victims of such possible abuse could well be the most vulnerable and indigent members of society: the poor, the disabled and the like. Those who cannot pay for prolonged accommodation in expensive health care facilities and intensive care units.

Death with dignity

In support of physician assisted suicide or voluntary active euthanasia, the argument is often made that, as people have the right to live with dignity, they also have the right to die with dignity. Some medical conditions are simply so painful and unnecessarily prolonged that the capability of the medical profession to alleviate suffering by means of palliative care is surpassed.

Intractable terminal suffering robs the victims of most of their dignity. In addition, medical science and practice is currently capable of an unprecedented prolongation of human life. It can be a prolongation that too often results in a concomitant prolongation of unnecessary and pointless suffering.

Enormous pressure is placed upon both families and the health care system to spend time and very costly resources on patients that have little or no chance of recovery and are irrevocably destined to die. It is, so the argument goes, not inhumane or irreverent to assist such patients – particularly if they clearly and repeatedly so request – to bring their lives to an end.

I am personally much more in favour of the pro-PAS and pro-VAE positions, although the arguments against do raise issues that need to be addressed. Most of those issues (for example the danger of the exploitation of vulnerable patients) I believe, can be satisfactorily dealt with by regulation.

Argument in favour of assisted suicide

The most compelling argument in favour of physician assisted suicide or voluntary active euthanasia is the argument in support of committing suicide in a democracy. The right to commit suicide is, as far as I am concerned, simply one of the prices we have to be willing to pay as citizens of a democracy.

We do not have the right, and we play no discernible role, in coming into existence. But we do have the right to decide how long we remain in existence. The fact that we have the right to suicide, does not mean that it is always (morally) right to execute that right.

It is hard to deny the right of an 85-year-old with terminal cancer of the pancreas and almost no family and friends left, to commit suicide or ask for assisted death. In this case, he or she both has the right, and will be in the right if exercising that right.

Compare that with the situation of a 40-year-old man, a husband and father of three young children, who has embezzled company funds and now has to face the music in court. He, also, has the right to commit suicide. But, I would argue, it would not be morally right for him to do so, given the dire consequences for his family. To have a right, does not imply that it is always right to execute that right.

My argument in favour of physician assisted suicide or voluntary active euthanasia is thus grounded in the right to suicide, which I think is fundamental to a democracy.

Take the case of a competent person who is terminally ill, who will die within the next six months and has no prospect of relief or cure. This person suffers intolerably and/or intractably, often because of an irreversible dependence on life-support. This patient repeatedly, say at least twice a week, requests that his/her life be terminated. I am convinced that to perform physician assisted suicide or voluntary active euthanasia in this situation is not only the humane and respectful, but the morally justified way to go.

The primary task of the medical profession is not to prolong life or to promote health, but to relieve suffering. We have a right to die with dignity, and the medical profession has a duty to assist in that regard.

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Volume 24, Number 4, April 2023 Supplement - Section I: The survey
IAHPC Publications
Special issues
IAHPC Special Issue on Assisted Dying Practices

Perspectives of major world religions on euthanasia and assisted dying

Katherine Pettus IAHPC Senior Director of Partnerships & Advocacy

A 2010 report based on a study of more than 230 countries by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life claimed that, “worldwide, more than eight-in-ten people identify with a religious group.” 1 The religious profile of the world is rapidly changing, driven primarily by differences in fertility rates and the size of youth populations among the world’s major religions, as well as by people switching faiths. Over the next four decades, Christians will remain the largest religious group, but Islam is projected to grow faster than any other major religion. 2 While there are many differences within the major world religions, and a multitude of individual opinions and interpretations of their faith by people who identify as religious or “spiritual,” we at the IAHPC believe that, given the sheer size of the demographic that self-defines as religious, teachings of major world religions are an important frame of reference for assisted dying discussions.

While the teachings of Buddha do not specifically address euthanasia, it is clear that the religion opposes “mercy killing.” 3 A 2013 document by the Pew Research Center on how different religious groups view end-of-life issues states that, “Buddhists generally oppose assisted suicide and euthanasia. Buddhism teaches that it is morally wrong to destroy human life, including one’s own, even if the intention is to end suffering. Buddhists are taught to have a great respect for life, even if that life is not being lived in optimal physical and mental health. Buddhists also believe that life need not be preserved at all costs and that one does not need to go to extraordinary lengths to preserve a dying person’s life. This means, for instance, that while a terminally ill person should not be denied basic care, he or she could refuse treatment that might prove to be futile or unduly burdensome. […] The bottom line is that so long as there is no intention to take life, no moral problem arises. 4

Christianity: Anglican (Episcopal)

An Anglican Communion Resolution on euthanasia from the 1998 Lambeth Conference states that, “In the light of current debate and proposals for the legalization of euthanasia in several countries, this Conference:

affirms that life is God-given and has intrinsic sanctity, significance and worth;
defines euthanasia as the act by which one person intentionally causes or assists in causing the death of another who is terminally or seriously ill in order to end the other's pain and suffering;
resolves that euthanasia, as precisely defined, is neither compatible with the Christian faith nor should be permitted in civil legislation;
distinguishes between euthanasia and withholding, withdrawing, declining or terminating excessive medical treatment and intervention, all of which may be consonant with Christian faith in enabling a person to die with dignity. When a person is in a permanent vegetative state, to sustain him or her with artificial nutrition and hydration may be seen as constituting medical intervention…” 5

However, there is considerable debate in the Anglican Communion. 6,7

Christianity: Catholic

According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, intentional euthanasia, whatever its forms or motives, is murder. It is “gravely contrary to the dignity of the human person and to the respect due to the living God, his Creator.” 8 Catholic teaching views suicide as a grave offense against love of self, one that also breaks the bonds of love and solidarity with family, nation, and God. 9 To assist another’s suicide is to take part in “an injustice which can never be excused, even if it is requested.” 10 At the European Regional Meeting of the World Medical Association on end-of-life issues, Pope Francis said “It is clear that not adopting, or else suspending, disproportionate measures, means avoiding overzealous treatment; from an ethical standpoint, it is completely different from euthanasia, which is always wrong, in that the intent of euthanasia is to end life and cause death.” 11 He reiterated the teaching of the Catechism of the Catholic Church that “Discontinuing medical procedures that are burdensome, dangerous, extraordinary, or disproportionate to the expected outcome can be legitimate; it is the refusal of ‘over-zealous’ treatment. Here one does not will to cause death; one’s inability to impede it is merely accepted.” 11

The Islamic code of law discusses many issues regarding life and death, as it considers any act of taking one's life to be forbidden. Islam sanctifies life and depicts it as a gift from God (Allah). It consistently emphasizes the importance of preserving life and well-being. Therefore Muslims, the followers of Islam, have no right to end their life. All Islamic doctrines consider physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia to be forbidden. However, if the patient has an imminently fatal illness, withholding or withdrawing a futile medical treatment is considered permissible. From a legal perspective, Islamic countries have not legalized physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia. Such practices are therefore considered suicides when patients consent to the procedure, and homicides when physicians execute the procedure. 12

Under Jewish law, the directive to preserve human life generally outweighs other considerations, including the desire to alleviate pain and suffering. According to Rabbi Leonard A. Sharzer, associate director for bioethics at the Louis Finkelstein Institute for Religious and Social Studies at The Jewish Theological Seminary in New York City, Judaism teaches that life is a precious gift from God. A person’s life belongs to God, he says, and therefore deciding when it ends should be left to God. 4 A Jew may not commit suicide, ask others to help in committing suicide, or assist in the suicide of someone else. Withholding or withdrawing machines or medications from a terminally ill patient, however, does not constitute suicide and is permitted. 13

Pew Research Center. The Global Religious Landscape: A Report on the Size and Distribution of the World’s Major Religious Groups as of 2010. The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, 2012.
Pew Research Center. The Future of World Religions: Population Growth Projections, 2010-2050. Why Muslims Are Rising Fastest and the Unaffiliated Are Shrinking as a Share of the World’s Population . Pew-Templeton Global Religious Futures Project, 2015.
Chaicharoen P, Ratanakul P. Letting-Go or Killing: Thai Buddhist Perspectives on Euthanasia . Eubios J Asian International Bioethics 1998; 8: 37-40.
Pew Research Center. Religious Groups’ Views on End-of-Life Issues . 2013.
Anglican Communion. Resolution 1.14 – Euthanasia . 1998.
Frankling S. Archbishop Nichols Urges Canadian Anglicans Not to Oppose Assisted Suicide Laws . Anglican Church of Canada. Anglican Journal, 2022.
Cagney H. Anglican Bishops Declare Support for Assisted Dying. Lancet Oncology 2014; 15(9): e368. DOI: 10.1016/S1470-2045(14)70340-7.
Catechism of the Catholic Church. Euthanasia. Point 2277 .
Fisher S. National Catholic Register. What Does the Church Teach about Suicide? Catechism of the Catholic Church, Point 2281. August 14, 2014.
John Paul II. Evangelium Vitae, no. 66 . (The Gospel of Life encyclical). Point #3.
Pope Francis. Pope Addresses End of Life Issues . https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2017-11/pope-addresses-end-of-life-issues-.html
Madadin M, Al Sahwan HS, Altarouti KK, Altarouti SA, Al Eswaikt ZS, Menezes RG. The Islamic Perspective on Physician-Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia. Med Sci Law 2020; 60(4): 278-286. DOI: 10.1177/0025802420934241
Dorff Rabbi EN. The Rabbinical Assembly. Assisted Suicide . YD 345.1997a. For Jewish and Catholic reiterations, see the just published 17 th Bilateral Commission Meeting of the Delegations of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel and the Holy See’s Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews; Jewish and Catholic Approaches to the terminally ill: The Prohibited, the Permitted and the Obligatory (Jerusalem, May 2-4, 2023; Iyar 11-13, 5783) https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2023/05/12/0362/00784.html

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Perspectives of Major World Religions regarding Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide: A Comparative Analysis

Affiliations.

1 QLD Specialist Palliative Rural Telehealth Service, Robina Hospital, Robina, QLD, 4226, Australia. [email protected].
2 Bond University, Robina, QLD, 4226, Australia. [email protected].
3 School of Medicine, Griffith University, Southport, QLD, 4222, Australia. [email protected].
4 University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2050, Australia. [email protected].
5 Renew Church Gold Coast, Gold Coast, QLD, 4213, Australia. [email protected].
6 HammondCare Palliative Care Services, Greenwich, NSW, 2065, Australia.
7 University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2050, Australia.
8 Institute for Ethics and Society, University of Notre Dame, Chippendale, NSW, 2007, Australia.
PMID: 35092533
PMCID: PMC9569313
DOI: 10.1007/s10943-022-01498-5

Euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide (EPAS) are important contemporary societal issues and religious faiths offer valuable insights into any discussion on this topic. This paper explores perspectives on EPAS of the four major world religions, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism, through analysis of their primary texts. A literature search of the American Theological Library Association database revealed 41 relevant secondary texts from which pertinent primary texts were extracted and exegeted. These texts demonstrate an opposition to EPAS based on themes common to all four religions: an external locus of morality and the personal hope for a better future after death that transcends current suffering. Given that these religions play a significant role in the lives of billions of adherents worldwide, it is important that lawmakers consider these views along with conscientious objection in jurisdictions where legal EPAS occurs. This will not only allow healthcare professionals and institutions opposed to EPAS to avoid engagement, but also provide options for members of the public who prefer an EPAS-free treatment environment.

Keywords: Assisted suicide; Euthanasia; Religion.

Christianity
Euthanasia*
Suicide, Assisted*

Euthanasia from Religious Perspectives

The ethicality of euthanasia is a controversial issue in the philosophy of medicine, ethics, law, and other disciplines connected to the notions of death and the right to it. Euthanasia has divided people into two main camps – those who see it as a crime against God or some higher institution and those who see it as a prerogative of each individual. The main argument of the last is that to leave a patient suffering is uncivilized and that a dignified death should be granted for everyone. Following this point of view, the best option is to help a sufferer to end their life. The pain that terminal patients undergo cannot be experienced by medical staff or their family members. Nevertheless, the decision to end the misery often is up to the third party.

Euthanasia is translated from Greek as “good death,” still in various cultures and religions it is not viewed as such (Tarabeih and Gonţa 7). Euthanasia is considered illegal in many counties, and even in those where it is legalized, doctors may apprehend performing the procedure. Nevertheless, euthanasia has developed several subtypes that are classified based on the party who makes the decision. Voluntary euthanasia happens when a patient requests the procedure themselves to end their suffering. Non-voluntary euthanasia is applied to a patient who is not able to make a conscious decision. Moreover, there is involuntary euthanasia, which is performed against the will of a patient (Tarabeih and Gonţa 7). Despite the moral differences that may arise from each type of euthanasia, religious practices seemingly don’t make a distinction in their approach and form their general perspective to the notion entirely.

Choosing to die may seem like a personal decision; however, euthanasia involves three parties – the patient willing to die, the doctor who performs the act, and, potentially, the patient’s relatives. From a medical point of view, there are several options for terminating a patient’s life that fall under the definition of “euthanasia.” Turning off the life support equipment is known as passive euthanasia, while a medical overdose of painkillers would be considered as active euthanasia (Tarabeih and Gonţa 14). In this way, along with the medical progress in the sphere of alleviating a person’s suffering, the debates around the topic can spark especially acute reactions among religious people.

The debates around ending someone’s life in a consensual medical way became especially poignant, approximately, by the end of the 20th century. In media, it has been presented as an issue to be regarded from ethical or religious points of view rather than from the scientific one (Tarabeih and Gonţa 14). Religion remains one of the most significant influences for the considerable number of pious people on this planet. Following moral demands of the higher being, such as God, introduces inner conflict into the lives of believers, which expresses itself in the ambiguity of human life. Moreover, the concept of the afterlife takes the central place in the majority of religions – Judaism, Christianity, and Islam have particular views on how euthanasia affects a patient’s afterlife.

Although Islam is the youngest of the major worldwide spread religions, it has accumulated the second largest number of followers (Chaïma 3). Islam teaches that all its people are Allah’s vicegerents, who gave them power over many things on Earth. As Allah’s wards, Muslims are supposed to possess, among other, two qualities that would help them to cope with adversities – patience and endurance. Additionally, one of the primary duties of a Muslim is to be socially useful. Muslims are required to try to stay in proper health and to lead a life that could ensure their soundness and maximize their helpfulness. The social system established in the Islamic countries provides its members with a set of rules, which is supposed to give them moral, physical, and emotional maintenance (Ahaddour 22). Looking after the ill and old, in Islam, is the duty of a family as in many other traditional societies.

One of Islam’s teachings says that Allah gives life and thus has full power to take it away; it is his prerogative. According to Islamic beliefs, Allah determined the lifespan of each individual, and prolonging or reducing it is not up to anyone but him. Thus, death is a matter that is entirely in Allah’s hands, and taking it away is supposed to only happen by Islamic rules. Allah instructs in Qur’an, “do not take life which Allah made sacred, other than in the cause of justice” (The Qur’an 17:33). This verse and many others overtly forbid euthanasia or any kind of assisted or unassisted suicide. Besides, Qur’an prohibits someone precipitating their physical deterioration, and it presents a clear position that Islam has towards euthanasia. In Islam, unlawful killing, helping others to die, and consenting to suicide are prohibited acts. Any pain or adversity in a Muslim’s life is a trial sent by Allah to prove a believer’s faith and endurance. Thereby, suffering should not overpower and discourage a Muslim to a degree where life would seem irremediable.

It may seem as if Qur’an and Muslim savants agree upon the ungodliness of euthanasia without a dissenting voice. It is the case for active euthanasia and mostly right for passive euthanasia, where treatment of a disease is suspended. For instance, the discussion of the ethicality of switching off a life support machine in Islam continues, and various conflicting points of view are presented (Ayuba 10). For example, some Islamic scholars accept the removal of the life support machine, if the sufferer has no potential for recovery (Ayuba 10). Therefore, the question of permissibility of passive euthanasia in Islam remains open, while active euthanasia is unanimously condemned. A Muslim’s life could be seen as an endurance test with a fixed deadline, where death is not the end but the final barrier between earthly life and the return to the Creator.

Judaism has a broader division of opinions on controversial topics: this also applies to euthanasia, on which there is no unanimous stance within this religion. Rabbis from different movements within Judaism tend to interpret to a degree different religious texts on which they base their opinions on euthanasia. Nevertheless, it seems that a lot of rabbis are contrary to this medical procedure. For instance, Rabbi David Bleich, when talking about euthanasia, underlines that “the quality of life which is preserved is never a factor to be taken into consideration” (Tarabeih and Gonţa 39). According to the rabbi, it is a Jewish duty to preserve and continue life with disregard to the circumstances that could push a Judaist into considering ending their life. Moreover, Bleich states that “never is he [man] called upon to determine whether is a life worth living – this is a question over which God remains the sole arbiter” (Tarabeih and Gonţa 39). Thus, Bleich represents a common opinion on euthanasia in Orthodox Judaism.

However, rabbis who advocate euthanasia also represent a valid group of Judaist religions. For example, Rabbi Sherwin, after an investigation of the sacred texts to form his opinion on euthanasia, concludes that there are exceptions to the rule of life preservation. The rabbi affirms that suffering that most definitely will result in death should be alleviated, if necessary, with the help of euthanasia (Tarabeih and Gonţa 43). In this way, Judaism asserts that human life is of infinite value, but recognizes that life is still finite. Moreover, a clear distinction between suicide and euthanasia is made by some rabbis, who find the latter permissible. Besides, attitudes toward active and passive euthanasia also vary from a rabbi to a rabbi – while some find that withdrawing life support machines is in agreement with Judaism, others do not.

When viewed from Judaism’s position, the attitude to euthanasia stems from the religion’s primary stances. These Judaist religious convictions are: the human body is a property of God, humans are mortal, and humans are obliged by God to care about their health (Dorff 155). Since the Jewish body belongs to God, they are required to preserve it and seek both preventive and curative treatment. Partially for this reason, Judaism strongly advises against resigning someone’s right to live without regard to circumstances that may push a person in this direction. Although, a terminal patient in Judaism is not supposed to commit suicide (medically assisted or not), they may pray to God and ask to accelerate death’s arrival (Tarabeih and Gonţa 44). Judaists piously believe that only God has the right to prolong or reduce someone’s lifespan.

While Orthodox Judaism forbids all types of euthanasia, some Christian confessions may allow, for instance, withdrawing a life support machine in severe circumstances (Raz and Schicktanz 6). Although specific movements permit euthanasia, strong opposition to the procedure can be found within Christianity’s broader belief system. It is argued that the human body should not be viewed simply in materialistic ways; thus, physical life on this planet should not be a primary concern for a Christian (Cherry 10). According to Christian tradition, life is God’s gift, and even though death is unavoidable, it should be met with dignity and faithfulness. On this belief, the unacceptability of all types of euthanasia in several Christian churches is based.

The main counterargument of pro-euthanasia Christians is that there is no support in the Bible for the stance that life should be prolonged for as long as possible (Tarabeih and Gonţa 43). This reasoning may shed a different light on passive euthanasia, making it more acceptable in the eyes of some believers. Nevertheless, a terminal patient who is suffering should be comforted but not pushed forward into the arms of death – this is the opinion of those Christians who oppose the procedure entirely (Tarabeih and Gonţa 43). Consequently, it may be concluded that a large number of confessions and movements within Christianity oppose euthanasia. Still, a smaller percentage of its proponents can be found as the religion transforms, adapting to contemporary society.

Islam, Judaism, and Christianity being Abrahamic religions, are to have similarities in their belief systems. One of them is the approach towards life and death questions, human health, and killing. Without diminishing the peculiarities of each religion, Islam, Judaism, and Christianity seem to agree about euthanasia to a certain degree. Moreover, the reasoning behind this is also similar: God is the giver of life, it is only up to the Creator to decide who is to die, and the human body is only a temporary asylum for an infinite soul, which can be corrupted by euthanasia. This simplification limits all the possibilities for discussion, as the sacred texts contain myriads of nuances that can be interpreted to one’s liking.

Works Cited

Ahaddour, Chaïma, et al. “God is the Giver and Taker of Life”: Muslim Beliefs and Attitudes Regarding Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia”. AJOB Empirical Bioethics , vol. 9, no. 1, 2018, pp. 1–11.

Ayuba, Mahmud Adesina. “Euthanasia: a Muslim’s Perspective “. Scriptura: Journal for Biblical, Theological, and Contextual Hermeneutics , vol. 115, 2016, pp. 1–13.

Cherry, Mark J. “Physician-Assisted Suicide and Voluntary Euthanasia: How Not to Die as a Christian”. Christian Bioethics: Non-Ecumenical Studies in Medical Morality , vol. 24, no. 1, 2018, pp. 1–16.

Dorff, Elliot N. “Jewish Perspectives on End-of-Life Decisions”. Death and Dying: Comparative Philosophy of Religion , vol. 2, 2019, pp 145-167.

Raz, Aviad E. and Silke Schicktanz. Comparative Empirical Bioethics: Dilemmas of Genetic Testing and Euthanasia in Israel and Germany . Springer Briefs in Ethics, 2016.

Tarabeih, Mahdi and Victoria Gonţa. Euthanasia – the Right to a Dignified Death. LAP LAMBERT Academic Publishing, 2019.

The Qur’an . Trans. by M.A.S. Abdel Haleem, Oxford UP, 2005

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4 Euthanasia: A Christian View

Published: September 1992
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I have called this paper ‘Euthanasia: A Christian View’. I almost decided to be provocative and call it ‘Euthanasia: The Christian View’, because, so far as I can see, it is the direct application of the only injunctions of Christ (discussed in the preceding paper) that bear immediately on the subject of euthanasia. But I have refrained, because these injunctions, if so applied, lead to a view of the matter which is so contrary to what is generally thought to be the Christian view, that I should be taken to be merely perverse if I advocated it as the Christian view. I will therefore call it a Christian view—thereby amicably leaving a place among Christian views, beside that which I say is immediately derivable from Christ’s words, for the very different views which are commonly maintained by the representatives of the Christian Church. I shall, however, be bold enough to go on, in the latter part of the paper, to try to explain why the Church has, typically, advocated a view so much at variance with what I take to be the implication of Christ’s own teaching. We shall see that it is readily explained by the exigencies of the human situation, and in particular the situation of any human institution which, like the Church, assumes the task of teaching people how they ought to behave.

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A Level Philosophy & Religious Studies

Euthanasia A* summary notes

Full notes a* summary notes this page: c/b summary notes, the sanctity of life.

The traditional Christian view. Sometimes now called the ‘strong’ sanctity of life.
God created human life, it is a gift from God, only God has a right to end it.
Biblical evidence:
We are created in God’s image. Genesis says that is why it is wrong to kill people.
The 10 commandments say thou shalt not murder.
1 Corinthians says that our body is a ‘temple of the holy spirit’ and ‘you do not belong to yourself.

Evaluation:

The weak sanctity of life view.
There are many themes found in the Bible, the sanctity of life is only one.
Other themes include compassion and love, both emphasised by Jesus.
All these factors must be taken into account and in some extreme cases the sanctity of life may be outweighed by the others.

Optional further evaluation:

Compassion being recommended in the bible does not justify overruling the sanctity of life view.

The Quality of life

This claims that what makes life valuable is the quality that it has in terms of the balance of happiness over suffering.
Peter Singer says that the sanctity of life is based on outdated Christian views and thus should be re-evaluated.
Singer argues that the reason killing is wrong is that it violates the preferences or interests of a being.
If someone has a low quality of life and a preference to die, then voluntary euthanasia is justified.
Non-voluntary euthanasia is also justified for those in a vegetative state and for babies born with terrible medical conditions like spine abifida. They cannot have or express a preference, but they do have an interest in not suffering unnecessarily.
The reasons killing is normally wrong do not apply in cases like this where quality of life is low or non-existent.
Archbishop Fisher criticises the quality of life view with the slippery slope argument.
Wherever euthanasia has been legalised for clear cases like elderly people with terminal illness, it eventually extends to cover more and more types of cases, such as babies.
Fisher further argues that this creates pressure to be euthanised on marginalised people who feel like a burden, or feel like a failure.
Adding to Fisher’s point, in Canada in 2022 there was controversy when some people requested euthanasia due to being in poverty.
Singer’s response is that those who receive euthanasia are disproportionately privileged.
He further points out that the number of euthanised babies in sweden has gone down over time, suggesting there isn’t a slippery slope.
Ultimately, Fisher’s arguments are unsuccessful because they do not show that it is necessarily wrong, only that we should be careful about how we implement it.
Nozick took a deontological/absolutist view of autonomy.
He argued for the principle of ‘self-ownership’, that each person owns their body and can do what they want with it.
If someone wants euthanasia then that is up to them, no matter the reason.
If someone else wants to help them, there is nothing ethically wrong with that.
Voluntary euthanasia is therefore always morally acceptable.
There are ethical downsides to allowing anyone to die who wants to.
Singer points to the example of a love-sick teenager who wants to die for short-sighted reasons.
Singer claims we can ‘safely predict’ they will get over their issues.
Allowing autonomy in euthanasia for absolutely any reason would lead to many people dying when they themselves would have ended up regretting it. That doesn’t seem like it enables autonomy.
Mill and Singer take a consequentialist view of autonomy to solve this issue.
Mill argued that society will be the happiest it can be if we follow the harm principle.
People should be free to do what they want, so long as they aren’t harming others.
This will maximise happiness because people are generally in the best position to know what will be good for them.

Further evaluation

The slippery slope
Allowing consequentialist autonomy will result in a slippery slope towards absolutist autonomy.
Fisher argues that once you accept that people have the right to die, you have no way to prevent slipping down the slope to allowing it in all cases where people want it.
In that case, autonomy cannot avoid the issues faced by Nozick’s version.

Optional final evaluation

We can combine Singer and Mill’s view of autonomy with the requirement that it be rational.
So, voluntary euthanasia is good when it is rationally chosen.
This would prevent the slippery slope issue, because it would not allow voluntary euthanasia in cases like the love-sick teenager.

Situation ethics application to Euthanasia

Situation ethics would judge that euthanasia can be morally good, in situation where it maximises agape.
In situations where it would maximise agape to avoid euthanasia, it would be wrong, however.
For example, if someone has a very low quality of life and an autonomous wish to die, it seems that Fletcher would accept euthanasia.
However if someone is pressured into euthanasia by their family who are greedy for inheritance or by society making them feel like a failure or a burden, or if they have a short-term issue like Singer’s example of a lovesick teenager, Fletcher would think it wrong to allow euthanasia in such cases.
W. Barclay’s critique.
People are not perfectly loving so if given the power to judge what is good or bad, people will do selfish or even cruel things.
People’s loving nature can be corrupted by power.
Someone might find it loving to manipulate/pressure someone into or out of euthanasia, perhaps if they will get inheritance to pay for their children’s food or something. Some might find it loving to end their life because they feel like a burden.
Defence of Fletcher: humanity has progressed since mediaeval times.
Fletcher and Robinson argue (influenced by Bonhoeffer) that humanity has ‘come of age’, however. This means that humanity has become more mature.
In medieval and ancient time, when humanity had not come of age, people in general were less educated and less self-controlling.
This meant that they needed fixed ridged clear rules to follow, because they could not be trusted to understand and act on the nuances and complexities in how a rule could justifiably be bent or broken if the situation called for it.
However, now people are more civilised, to the point that granting them more autonomy will increase love without risking the stability of society.
Barclay disagrees however, and thinks that although people might appear improved, if granted the freedom (and thus power) to do what they want, they won’t choose the loving thing they will choose the selfish or even the cruel thing.
This is essentially the classic argument that power corrupts. It also echoes the debate about the extent to which human nature is corrupt, such as by original sin.
Also relevant is psychology like the Stanford prison experiment and literature like lord of the flies.
It is a well-known feature of human psychology that power is corrupting. The freedom to decide what is good or bad without external supervision of legalistic laws grants humans more power and thereby corrupts them.

Natural law application to euthanasia

Natural law ethics claims that we should follow the Bible teachings, which Aquinas calls the ‘divine law’. It claims there is also another law, the ‘natural law’ which also comes from God.
God has given reason to human nature and designed it to be able to intuitively know the primary precepts of natural law.
Application to Euthanasia. Euthanasia violates the primary precept to protect and preserve human life.
Violating the sanctity of life, such as by allowing euthanasia, also violates the primary precept of maintaining an orderly society. Natural law is the idea that God designed all things, including humans, with the potential to be in harmony if they follow God’s natural law, such as the preservation of human life. Failure to follow this will therefore cause disharmony. Our society will break down because living contrary to God’s design is unnatural and thus leads to immorality and social disorder.
Mother Theresa summed up this kind of argument well during her speech upon receiving the noble peace prize. She claimed “the greatest threat to world peace is abortion. If a mother can kill her own child in her own womb, what is left to stop us from killing one another?”
The Catholic Church uses the double effect to claim that sometimes doctors can stop or withdraw treatment (passive euthanasia) or even administer pain medication which could speed up death. So long as the intention is not to kill, the double effect would suggest such actions can be morally acceptable.
Whether Natural law ethics and the sanctity of life is outdated
Aquinas’ Natural law ethics and the sanctity of life principle are increasingly seen as outdated. Sociologically, we could claim these ethical principles were created to be useful in the socio-economic conditions of their time. Ancient and Medieval society was more chaotic, strict rules were important to hold society together and because people were not educated nor civilised enough to be trusted with the freedom to interpret their application. It made sense to create strict absolutist ethical principles to prevent society from falling apart. This would explain the primary precepts. They served a useful function in medieval society.
Applied to euthanasia, we can argue it was useful to simply ban all killing in medieval times, because violence and killing was much more common and therefore needed to be strongly restricted. People were less self-controlling and less educated, so they needed clear simple rules to follow.
The issue clearly is that all of these socio-economic conditions have changed. So, the primary precepts are no longer useful. They were designed for a different time and are now increasingly outdated. Society can now afford to gradually relax the inflexibility of its rules and think about how they might be reinterpreted to better fit modern society.

Further Evaluation

Aquinas could be defended that this doesn’t actually make his theory wrong. The fact that mainstream culture has moved on from natural law ethics doesn’t mean it was right to. If Hitler had won WW2 and enslaved humanity, then democracy might have been viewed as ‘outdated’, but that wouldn’t make it wrong. Calling an ethical theory outdated is not an argument against its actual truth.

Optional final-evaluation

A better version of the ‘outdated’ critique is to argue that Aquinas’ theory was actually a reaction to his socio-economic context and since that has changed, Natural law is no longer relevant.
Aquinas thought that he discovered the primary precepts through human reason, as God designed. However, arguably it’s a simpler explanation that Aquinas was simply intuiting what was good for people in his socio-economic condition. The idea that the resulting principles actually came from God was only in his imagination.
Natural law is outdated because it doesn’t actually come from God but was a reaction to socio-economic conditions that have changed.

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School Education /

Essay on Euthanasia: 100, 200 and 300 Words Samples

Updated on
Feb 22, 2024

Essay on Euthanasia: Euthanasia refers to the act of killing a person without any emotions or mercy. Euthanasia is an ethnically complex and controversial topic, with different perspectives and legal regulations on different topics. School students and individuals preparing for competitive exams are given assigned topics like essays on euthanasia. The objective of such topics is to check the candidate’s perspectives and what punishment should be morally and legally right according to them.

If you are assigned an essay on euthanasia, it means your examiner or teacher wants to know your level of understanding of the topic. In this article, we will provide you with some samples of essays on euthanasia. Feel free to take ideas from the essays discussed below.

Master the art of essay writing with our blog on How to Write an Essay in English .

This Blog Includes:

Essay on euthanasia in 150 words, euthanasia vs physician-assisted suicide, euthanasia classification, is euthanasia bad.

Euthanasia or mercy killing is the act of deliberately ending a person’s life. This term was coined by Sir Francis Bacon. Different countries have their perspectives and laws against such harmful acts. The Government of India, 2016, drafted a bill on passive euthanasia and called it ‘The Medical Treatment of Terminally Ill Patient’s Bill (Protection of Patients and Medical Practitioners).

Euthanasia is divided into different classifications: Voluntary, Involuntary and Non-Voluntary. Voluntary euthanasia is legal in countries like Belgium and the Netherlands, with the patient’s consent. On one side, some supporters argue for an individual’s right to autonomy and a dignified death. On the other hand, the opponents raise concerns about the sanctity of life, the potential for abuse, and the slippery slope towards devaluing human existence. The ethical debate extends to questions of consent, quality of life, and societal implications.

Also Read: Essay on National Science Day for Students in English

Essay on Euthanasia in 350 Words

The term ‘Euthanasia’ was first coined by Sir Francis Bacon, who referred to an easy and painless death, without necessarily implying intentional or assisted actions. In recent years, different countries have come up with different approaches, and legal regulations against euthanasia have been put forward.

In 2016, the government of India drafted a bill, where euthanasia was categorised as a punishable offence. According to Sections 309 and 306 of the Indian Penal Code, any attempt to commit suicide and abetment of suicide is a punishable offence. However, if a person is brain dead, only then he or she can be taken off life support only with the help of family members.

Euthanasia is the act of intentionally causing the death of a person to relieve their suffering, typically due to a terminal illness or unbearable pain.

Physician-assisted suicide involves a medical professional providing the means or information necessary for a person to end their own life, typically by prescribing a lethal dose of medication.

In euthanasia, a third party, often a healthcare professional, administers a lethal substance or performs an action directly causing the person’s death.

It is the final decision of the patient that brings out the decision of their death.

Voluntary Euthanasia

It refers to the situation when the person who is suffering explicitly requests or consents to euthanasia. A patient with a terminal illness may express his or her clear and informed desire to end their life to a medical professional.

Involuntary

It refers to the situation when euthanasia is performed without the explicit consent of the person, often due to the individual being unable to communicate their wishes.

Non-Voluntary

In this situation, euthanasia is performed without the explicit consent of the person, and the person’s wishes are unknown.

Active euthanasia refers to the deliberate action of causing a person’s death, such as administering a lethal dose of medication.

It means allowing a person to die by withholding or withdrawing treatment or life-sustaining measures.

Euthanasia and assisted suicide are a defeat for all. We are called never to abandon those who are suffering, never giving up but caring and loving to restore hope. — Pope Francis (@Pontifex) June 5, 2019

Shiva Tyagi

With an experience of over a year, I've developed a passion for writing blogs on wide range of topics. I am mostly inspired from topics related to social and environmental fields, where you come up with a positive outcome.

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158 Euthanasia Topics & Essay Examples

If you’re writing a euthanasia essay, questions and topics on the subject can be tricky to find. Not with our list!

📑 Aspects to Cover in a Euthanasia Essay

🏆 Best Euthanasia Essay Examples & Topics

💡 clever euthanasia titles, 🎓 simple & easy euthanasia essay titles, ✅ most interesting euthanasia topics to write about, ❓ euthanasia essay questions.

Our experts have prepared a variety of ideas for your paper or speech. In the article below, find original euthanasia research questions and essay titles. And good luck with your assignment!

📑 Aspects to Cover in an Euthanasia Essay

Euthanasia is the process of intentional life ending. Its goal is to stop patients’ suffering and pain. In today’s world, euthanasia is a debatable topic, and there are many questions about it.

Euthanasia essays can help students to raise awareness of the process and its aspects. That is why it is crucial to research this issue and write papers on it.

You can discuss various problems in your essay on euthanasia, as there is a broad variety of related issues. You can choose the one you are the most concerned about, search for euthanasia essay questions online or consult your professor.

Here are some examples of euthanasia essay topics and titles we can suggest:

The benefits and disadvantages of a physician-assisted suicide
Ethical dilemmas associated with euthanasia
An individual’s right to die
Euthanasia as one of the most debatable topics in today’s society
The ethical dilemma around euthanasia
The ethics associated with voluntary euthanasia
Can euthanasia be considered murder?
Euthanasia debate: Should the government legalize this procedure?
The legality of physician-assisted suicide in today’s society

Once you have selected one of the euthanasia essay titles, you can start working on your paper. Here are some important aspects to cover:

Start from developing a solid euthanasia essay thesis. You should state the main idea of your paper and your primary argument clearly. A thesis statement can look like this: Euthanasia is beneficial for patients because it prevents them from suffering. Euthanasia can be equal to murder.

Remember to include a definition of euthanasia and related terms, such as physician-assisted suicide. Your audience should understand what you are talking about in the essay.
Do not forget to include the existing evidence on the issue. For instance, you can research euthanasia in different countries, the debates around its legalization, and all other aspects related to the problem. Support your claims with facts and cite your sources correctly.
Legal and ethical questions are some of the most significant aspects you should cover in the essay. Discuss the potential benefits and disadvantages of the procedure, as well as its impact on patients’ families and medical professionals.
If you are writing an opinion paper, do not forget to state your opinion clearly. Include relevant experience, if possible (for example, if you work at a hospital and patients have asked you about the procedure). Have you met people who could have benefited from euthanasia? Include their stories, if applicable.
Do not forget to cover the legal aspects of euthanasia in your state. Is it legal to perform some form of euthanasia where you live or work? Do you think it is beneficial for the patients?
Remember to look at the grading rubric to see what other aspects you should cover in your paper. For example, your professor may want you to state a counter-argument and include a refutation paragraph. Make sure that you follow all of your instructor’s requirements.
If you are not sure that you have covered all the necessary questions related to your issue, check out related articles and analyze the authors’ arguments. Avoid copying other people’s work and only use it as an inspiration.

Please find our free samples below with the best ideas for your work!

Euthanasia: Advantages and Disadvantages The most heavily criticized of all such similar actions is involuntary euthanasia which bears the brunt of all severe protests against the issue, with involuntary euthanasia being dubbed as the deprivation of an individual of […]
Arguments in Favor of Euthanasia Due to the sensitivity of the issue, laws that will protect the rights of both the patient and the physicians who practice euthanasia should be put in place.
Consequentialism: Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Suicide People against euthanasia view the consequences of legalization as a gateway to other unethical practices being accepted, which is a slippery slope that could lead to adverse consequences to the fundamental principles and values of […]
An Argument Against Euthanasia 5 Generally, it is contrary to the duty of the subject of euthanasia and that of those who intend to perform the mercy killing to take one’s life based on their own assessment of the […]
Advantages and Disadvantages of Euthanasia in Modern Society In its turn, this points out to the fact that, in the field of health care, the notion of medicinal compassion organically derives out of the notion of scientific progress, and not out of the […]
Why Active Euthanasia is Morally Wrong The issue of active euthanasia has come to the attention of the public over the past decades as more people demand for the right to be assisted to die.
Euthanasia: Legalisation of a Mercy Killing The fact that the minority of countries and only several states in the US accept euthanasia proves that today people are still not ready to accept it as a mercy.
Legalizing Euthanasia The are supporters of the idea that only God has the right to take human’s life, on the other hand, the sufferings of the person may be unbearable and they may ask for euthanasia to […]
The Right to Life and Active Euthanasia The god of every individual should be the only one to bring death to a person and no person should have the authority to accept dying no matter the situation he/she is in.
The Death Definition and the Need for Euthanasia If the concept of the soul is to be believed in, then one’s death is simply a process that detaches the soul from the body.
Euthanasia as a Polarizing Issue The example of a plethora of countries shows that the inclusion of assisted suicide is not detrimental to the broad society.
Rachel’s Stance on Euthanasia: Passive and Active Killing Despite the appealing nature of Rachel’s argument, his claims of equity of killing and letting a person die are not ethically right. A major distinction between killing and witnessing death is the level of responsibility […]
Euthanasia for Terminally Ill People: Pros & Cons Despite the fact that euthanasia causes a lot of controversy, every person should have the right to end suffering. Permission of euthanasia is the realization of a person’s right to dispose of their body.
Euthanasia: Arguments for and Against If the disease has reduced a person to a vegetative state and deprived them of consciousness, then their life is no longer fully human and therefore is not considered a blessing.
Analysis of Ethical Dilemma: Euthanasia One of these is the right to live, which includes much more than the ability to simply exist, and suggests an adherence to a minimum of quality and self-determination.
Euthanasia-Related Ethical and Legal Issues There are no discussions about whether the person has the right to commit suicide or not because most individuals agree that it is the decision of the adult person who can dispose of their life.
Euthanasia: Legal Prohibitions and Permits In addition, it is necessary to take into account the right of a suffering person to get rid of the suffering of loved ones.
Euthanasia: Why Is It Such a Big Problem? Thus, according to the utilitarian viewpoint, there is no problem with euthanasia as along as it is better for the patient. Who is it to decide what is better for the patient?
Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide as a Current Issue in Nursing Nowadays, even in nations where the procedure of euthanasia and assisted suicide has been legal for decades, this topic continues to be controversial due to ethical and policy issues. However, in the light of the […]
Euthanasia as Self-Termination Velleman believes that a person should not have the right to end their life as it can make other people suffer, but there is an objection to his opinion related to that person’s own pain.
Euthanasia and Its Main Advantages However, after realizing the condition is untreatable and having the consent of both the sick person and the relatives, undertaking assisted suicide will enable the patient to evade extreme suffering.
Euthanasia: Nurses’ Attitudes Towards Death The weakest part of the article is that most of the participants did not clearly define the concept of euthanasia, which casts doubt on the reliability of the sampled data.
Right to Die With Euthanasia Methods The possible answer is to develop the functionality of both ordinary public hospitals and hospices that are located in their departments. In addition, it is critical to specify the desirable methods of euthanasia.
“Active and Passive Euthanasia” by James Rachels The second issue about euthanasia that Rachels raises is the difference between killing and allowing one to die. For Rachels, it is necessary to emphasize that killing is sometimes even more humane than allowing one […]
Arguments Against Legalization of Euthanasia Although the PAS/E should be offered voluntarily to a patient, in some cases it is offered in secret by physicians to patients who are perceived to be dying.
Euthanasia: The Terri Schiavo Case Analysis The long-term judicial resolution of the Terri Schiavo case was related to the bioethical problem of the humanity of euthanasia, which had many opponents and supporters.
Can Euthanasia Be Considered Ethical Consequently, from this perspective, the act of euthanasia would be regarded as violence to someone else’s life. As a result, euthanasia is likely to be considered unethical from the point of view of any of […]
“Active and Passive Euthanasia” and “Sexual Morality” According to Scruton, morality is a constraint upon reasons for action and a normal consequence of the possession of a first-person perspective. For Scruton, sexual morality includes the condemnation of lust and perversion that is, […]
Nursing Role in Euthanasia Decision and Procedures The weakest point is the lack of analysis of other factors’ influence on the process of euthanasia. The researchers discovered that the role of nurses in euthanasia is underestimated.
Aspects of Nursing and Euthanasia The subject of the research by Monteverde was to ask people who work in the medical sphere and face the necessity for euthanasia, whether they are for or against it, and why.
Pros and Cons of Euthanasia from an Ethical Perspective Primarily, this is apparent on American soil, in which some states decriminalized euthanasia, although the supreme court maintained that there is no law that legalized the practice nor the ban of the mentioned act.
Euthanasia in the Context of Christianity The questions addressed in the paper include the notions of fall and resurrection as means of interpreting suffering, the Christian stance on the value of human life and euthanasia, and the discussion of possible solutions […]
Nursing Practice and Euthanasia’s Ethical Issues Effective healthcare management is the involvement of all stakeholders, such as CMS, and the federal government in the decision-making process to improve the sustainable growth in the effectiveness of Medicaid.
Counseling on Euthanasia and End-of-Life Decision The immediate dynamic killing is a clinical demonstration coordinated to the hardship of life, while a doctor helped self-destruction is a demonstration of the doctor where he gives the patient a medicament for taking life.
Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Suicide Articles According to the methods of application, there are two main types of euthanasia: “active”, which consists in performing certain actions to accelerate the death of a hopelessly ill person, and “passive”, the meaning of which […]
Legal and Ethical Issues of Euthanasia Davis argues that there exists a challenge on how to establish a consensus in the competing views regarding the desire for patients to have the choice to die with dignity while under pain and distress […]
Debates on Euthanasia – Opposes the Use Therefore, the legal system should work hand in hand with healthcare shareholders in distinguishing the limits between the patients’ rights and the physicians’ accountability based on the possible life-limiting treatment choices.
Active Euthanasia: Ethical Dilema In case of active euthanasia, it is the patient who requests the medical practitioner to end his or her life and the former abides by the wish.
Euthanasia: Every For and Against Jane L Givens and Susan L Mitchell “Concerns about End-of-Life Care and Support for Euthanasia” Journal of Pain and Symptom Management Article in Press FOR The authors state socio-demographic characteristics of the people are the […]
Pro Euthanasia in the United States The discussions of euthanasia implementation in the United States began in the early 19th century after the development of ether, which was applied to pain-relieving.
Human Euthanasia Should Be Allowed It is stated that there is a shift in a social attitude towards human euthanasia, where people are beginning to realize that people’s lives are their rights.
The Euthanasia in Humans The moral and ethical aspects of medical practice include not only the features of interaction with patients and other interested parties but also deeper nuances. In particular, one of the controversial and acute topics is euthanasia and its acceptability from different perspectives, including both patients’ and healthcare employees’ positions. In addition, religious issues are involved, […]
Euthanasia: Philosophical Issues at Stake in Rodriguez I will argue that the prohibition of euthanasia contradicts utilitarianism and the principle of quality of life in particular, and can hardly be supported by paternalism since the ban does not benefit an individual’s life.
“Euthanasia Reconsidered” by Deagle In more detail, there is a clearly discernible introduction that provides the background to the topic, introduces the thesis statement, and state the opinion of the author of the topic discussed.
Euthanasia Movement in Modern America Euthanasia movements in modern America perfected the art of rhetoric in their communication and this worked for them in terms of winning the heart of the public.
Euthanasia: The Issue of Medical Ethics In this respect, the position of a physician under the strain of extreme circumstances should be weighed about the value of compassion.
The Dilemma of Euthanasia It is at this point, when it becomes a contention of professional ethics and moral considerations on the part of Jack and his wife on the one hand, and personal choice on the part of […]
The Problem of Euthanasia in Animal Shelters Animal shelters are forced to euthanize animals for a number of reasons which includes: Lack of funds to treat sick animals, overcrowding as a result of the increased number of animals brought in by owners […]
David Velleman’s Views on Euthanasia Velleman is correct in his conviction that in this case, the patient’s decision will be the outcome of a federal right to die; the situation with euthanasia is common to that of abortion with the […]
Euthanasia: Ethical Debates When a patient is in the final stage of life, sometimes, the disease or the conditions of the patient, cause a lot of physical and psychological suffering.
Euthanasia Moral and Ethical Agitation If grandma were a dog, most all would agree that the only humane option would be to ‘put her to sleep.’ U.S.citizens are guaranteed certain rights but not the right to wouldie with dignity.’ This […]
Life-Span Development: Terri Schiavo’s Euthanasia Case Euthanasia is the process of stopping the medical maintenance of a patient’s life when the patient/herself does not want to suffer anymore and the doctors are sure that no improvements in the patient’s condition are […]
Euthanasia and Other Life Termination Options However, there is a strong case for helping terminally ill patients spend the remainder of their lives with care provided by the medical fraternity and with support from the state and insurance companies. And in […]
The Problem of Euthanasia Nevertheless, we must recognize that the interruption of life, alone or with the help of doctors, is contrary to one of the basic tenets of Christianity: the more people suffer on earth, the easier it […]
Euthanasia: Allow Them to Be Free From Body Euthanasia, the practice of deliberately bring about an easy, painless, and moderate death to a person who is in the last days of his life and can no more bear the pain of living, has […]
Palliative Medicine Replacement for Euthanasia Euthanasia is not about helping ill and dying people to end their pain and bring comfort. Euthanasia undermines the core values of life and decreases the motivation to provide care for the dying.
Euthanasia in Christian Spirituality and Ethics By examining Christian’s views on the fallenness of the world, the hope of resurrection, and the value of a person’s life, one can see that euthanasia is not a morally acceptable option for a Christian […]
Euthanasia: A Legalized Right to Die Nothing could be further from the intent of those who favor a limited reconsideration of public policy in the areas of assisted suicide and voluntary active euthanasia.
Euthanasia and Suicide Issues in Christian Ethics Based on the two perceptions of euthanasia, theological and professional, it is valid to say that assisted suicide is probably not the best way out.
Euthanasia: Morals, Ethics, and the Value of Life James Rachels however disagrees with the position taken by doctors when it comes to active Euthanasia and argues that, given a case where the patient is in intolerable pain and is certain to die in […]
Euthanasia. Arguments of Opponents The request of the patient to relieve them from Karma and sufferings that is clarification and healing, nobody gives the right to break life of a physical body.
Attitudes Related to Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Suicide Among Terminally Ill Patients Consequently, the outlined safeguard becomes the first line of defense in making sure that only the right individuals with chronic and incurable medical conditions benefit from assisted death.
Active Euthanasia Legalization Controversy While many people present the notions of medical ethics, the right to life, and the availability of palliative care to oppose active euthanasia, there are those who support it since it is evidence-based in nature […]
Dying With Dignity: Euthanasia Debate On the other hand, the supporters of the law claim that assisted death is not a suicide, and it allows more end-of-life options for terminally ill patients. The majority of people are concerned with control […]
Euthanasia Legalization as an Unethical Practice The decision to legalize euthanasia is an idea that societies should ignore since it places many global citizens at risk, fails to provide adequate safeguards, diminishes social values, and undermines the teachings of Islam.
The Ethics of Euthanasia In the analysis of the claims in favor and against euthanasia, the cause and effect relationships between the factors affecting the choice of euthanasia should be established.
Today’s Moral Issues: Euthanasia To ensure that the right to life is respect, the law was amended to include assisted or aided suicide as a criminal offense.
Controversial Issues of Euthanasia Decision We now had to make this difficult decision to end his life and relieve him of all the pain that he was undergoing.
Confronting Physician-Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia It was because of that pain that led my mother and I to bring her to a Chinese holistic healer who treated her with some sort of secret Chinese medical injection.
Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia Rights in Canada The article asserts that in the year 1993, Rodriquez petitioned in vain to the Supreme Court of Canada to allow her to undertake euthanasia. In the article, the author asserts that, in the year 1993, […]
Euthanasia: “Being a Burden” by Martin Gunderson As it was implied in the Introduction, in his article, Gunderson argues in favor of the idea that it is utterly inappropriate to even consider the legalization of voluntary euthanasia, due to a number of […]
Euthanasia: Fighting for the Right Cause Sommerville is a renowned Samuel Gale Professor of Law at the McGill University in Montreal, the Professor in the Faculty of Medicine, and the Founding Director of the Center for Medicine, Ethics, and Law. The […]
Euthanasia as a Way of Painless Termination of Life The introduction of the Hippocratic School led to the abolishment of the practice. According to the approach, taking human life is unethical and violation of the core right to life.
Euthanasia and Other Life-Destroying Procedures From this perspective, it is unethical to decide in favor of an end-of-life procedure on the condition that there are at least minimal chances for a patient’s survival.
Ethics of Euthanasia and Pain-Relieving This leads to the historical argument that voluntary euthanasia is often the beginning of a slippery slope that gives rise to unintentional euthanasia and the murder of people who are unwanted in society.
Euthanasia Legalization: Public Policy Debates The requirements of physicians to perform euthanasia and consideration of the second opinion eliminate the violation of legal and ethical stipulations, and thus, control the performance of euthanasia in health care environment. Opponents of euthanasia […]
Euthanasia: Moral Rationalist View Human beings rely on the available evidence to generate beliefs about life and goals that should be attained, and thus the use of reason leads to success in these objectives.
Euthanasia: Is It Worth the Fuss? In order to grasp the gist of the deliberations in this essay, it is important to first apprehend what the term euthanasia means and bring this meaning in the context of this essay.
Active and Passive Euthanasia Analysis and Its Concept The issue of morality is one of the things that have to be mentioned when discussing the concept of euthanasia. In this instance, both the patient and the doctor know that there is no cure […]
Euthanasia in Today’s Society Euthanasia is the deliberate termination of life with the intention of relieving a patient from pain and suffering. If the prognosis of a patient is gloomy, medical care providers may find it more compassionate to […]
When Ethics and Euthanasia Conflict? The main aim is to reduce the lifetime of a patient who is terminally ill. There is a deep mistrust of the motivations that fuel euthanasia.
Religions Views on Euthanasia This essay highlights religious thoughts with regard to the whole issue of euthanasia, bringing into focus the extent to which our society has been influenced by courtesy of the Dr.
Euthanasia as the Key Controversy of the XXI Century The fact that in the present-day society, human life is put at the top of the entire list of values is a major achievement of the civilization and the fact that the current society is […]
Euthanasia: Is It the Best Solution? In twentieth century, various agencies erupted to address the practice of euthanasia such as Voluntary Euthanasia Legislation Society in 1935, which was advocating for its legalization in London and the National Society for the Legalization […]
Euthanasia: Right to Live or Right to Die Euthanasia or mercy killing as it is informally referred is the act of ending a person life if it is deemed to be the only way to help a person get out of their suffering.
A New Fight to Legalize Euthanasia Before settling down on the conclusion of the need to adopt the practice of euthanasia in our state, it is important to visit some basic aspects that are very key in the issue of euthanasia.
The Morality of Euthanasia In the meantime the medication and the doctors are not trivial anymore in stopping the pain and the victim despite all the sufferings, he or she is in a vegetative state and there is nothing […]
The Ethics of Active Euthanasia In support of the euthanasia action, the argument is that there are circumstances when the rule of natural life can be violated.
Is Euthanasia a Morally Wrong Choice for Terminal Patients? It is imperative to note that for both the opponents and proponents of euthanasia, the quality of life is usually the focal point, even though there is no agreement on the criteria of defining quality […]
Singer’s Views on Voluntary Euthanasia, Non-voluntary Euthanasia, and Involuntary Euthanasia Hence, if a person consciously consents to die, there are no chances for recovery, and killing is the only way to deprive a patient from pain and suffering, euthanasia can be regarded as voluntary.
Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide The final act that results in the death of the person is however usually performed by the person intending to die after the provision of information, advice and even the ways through which he or […]
Euthanasia Authorization Debate Euthanasia, which is equivalent to the termination of life, can be equated to a total breach of the principle of the sacredness of life, as well as the breach of the legal right of human […]
Moral and Ethical Concerns of Euthanasia in Healthcare In the matter of euthanasia, professionals ought to decide between the overall good of the dying patient and that of other stakeholders.
Good and Harm to Humanity of the Use a Euthanasia An Overview of Euthanasia The meaning of euthanasia has changed over the years from how it was originally construed to what it means to the contemporary world.
Euthanasia and Meaning of Life The meaning of life is the most general aspect of judging about the requirements that must be set out by laws and people’s morals in regarding to the voluntary or involuntary taking of that life.
Euthanasia: Your Right to Die? Although both positions can be supported with a lot of arguments, people should change their absolutely negative vision of euthanasia because the right to die with the help of physicians can be considered as one […]
Euthanasia and Human’s Right to Die Trying to support human life with the help of modern equipment is a good idea, however, not in case there are no chances for a person to live without that equipment.
Euthanasia Moral Permissibility Secondly, the application of voluntary euthanasia should not be regarded as the only way of reducing the pain that a patient can experience.
Euthanasia (Mercy Killing) In some circumstances, the family and friends of the patient might request the hospital to terminate the life of the patient without necessarily informing the patient.
Euthanasian Issues in Modern Society Is it possible to find the relief in the life which is full of pain and agony for those people who suffer from serious diseases and have only a little chance to get rid of […]
Euthanasia From a Disciple of Jesus Christ in Today’s World Another form of euthanasia is that of Assisted Suicide where the person intending to end his/her life is provided with the necessary guidance, means as well as information as to how to go about the […]
Euthanasia and Modern Society Towards this end Battin asserts that “the relief of pain of a patient is the least disputed and of the highest priority to the physician” in direct reference to sole and major reason of carrying […]
Euthanasia: Moral Issues and Clinical Challenges Therefore, any law that rejects euthanasia is a bad one because it denies the patients the right and the liberty to die peacefully.
Ethical Issues Surrounding the Choice of Euthanasia in the United States
The Advantages and Disadvantages of the Legalization of Euthanasia
Confronting Physician-Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia
The Difference Between Active and Passive Euthanasia
Euthanasia: Current Policy, Problems, and Solution
The Permit and Legalization of Euthanasia for the Terminally Ill Patients
Moral and Religious Differences Between Euthanasia and Suicide
The Criticisms and Opposition of Euthanasia in Australia
Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia It Is Not Murder, It Is Mercy
The Factors That Influence the Legalization of Active and Passive Euthanasia in the United States
Roman Catholic Church’s Teachings on Abortion and Euthanasia
The Different Reasons Why People Are Against Euthanasia
Religious and Ethical Arguments in Favour of Euthanasia
The Moral and Ethical Views on the Goal of Euthanasia
Euthanasia and the Role of Politics and Religion
The Philosophical, Legal, and Medical Issues on Euthanasia
General Information About Euthanasia and the Legality of Suicide in Australia
The Nazi Euthanasia Programme Based on Racial Purity Theories
Dr. Jack Kevorkian’s Role in Physician-Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia
Utilitarian and Libertarian Views on Euthanasia
The Moral and Religious Differences, if Any, Between Euthanasia and Suicide
Biblical World View About the Euthanasia, Suicide, and Capital Punishment
The Truth About Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide
Tracing Back the Origins of the Practice of Euthanasia During the Greeks and Roman Times
The Causes and Effects of Euthanasia and the Moral Right To Die
The Arguments Against Euthanasia From a Standpoint of a Catholic Christian in the United States of America?
Why Should Active Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Suicide Be Legalized?
What Are the Good and Bad Sides of Euthanasia?
Do People Have To Commit Suicide by Euthanasia (Suicide by a Doctor)?
What Is the Difference Between Passive and Active Euthanasia?
What Are the Social Issues and Ethical Values of Euthanasia?
What Is the Current Legal Situation Regarding Euthanasia?
How Does Prohibition of Euthanasia Limit Our Rights?
What Is the American Medical Association’s Attitude to Euthanasia?
Can Hegelian Dialectics Justify Euthanasia?
What Are the Viewpoints and Studies of the Legalization of Euthanasia in the United States?
Why Does Parenting Make Euthanasia More Acceptable?
What Are the Negative Arguments Against Euthanasia?
Voluntary Euthanasia: What’s Right and Wrong?
Why Can Christians not Accept Euthanasia?
Can Euthanasia Help the Terminally Ill?
What Are the Top Ten Reasons for Legalizing Euthanasia?
Should Non Voluntary Euthanasia Be Legal?
What Is the Difference Between Doctor-Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia?
Why Should Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide Be Legalized?
What’s Wrong With Involuntary Euthanasia?
Why Are There So Different Views on Abortion and Euthanasia?
How Would Christians Respond to the Issue of Abortion and Euthanasia?
What Are the Objections To Legalizing Euthanasia in Hong Kong?
How Does Euthanasia Devalue Human Life?
What Are the Views and Arguments About Euthanasia?
How May the Christian Faith Inform the Debate Over Euthanasia?
What Does Euthanasia Mean to Society Today?
What Are the Religious and Ethical Considerations to the Issue of Euthanasia?
Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide – Who Wants It?
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The Supreme Court Got It Wrong: Abortion Is Not Settled Law

In an black-and-white photo illustration, nine abortion pills are arranged on a grid.

By Melissa Murray and Kate Shaw

Ms. Murray is a law professor at New York University. Ms. Shaw is a contributing Opinion writer.

In his majority opinion in the case overturning Roe v. Wade, Justice Samuel Alito insisted that the high court was finally settling the vexed abortion debate by returning the “authority to regulate abortion” to the “people and their elected representatives.”

Despite these assurances, less than two years after Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, abortion is back at the Supreme Court. In the next month, the justices will hear arguments in two high-stakes cases that may shape the future of access to medication abortion and to lifesaving care for pregnancy emergencies. These cases make clear that Dobbs did not settle the question of abortion in America — instead, it generated a new slate of questions. One of those questions involves the interaction of existing legal rules with the concept of fetal personhood — the view, held by many in the anti-abortion movement, that a fetus is a person entitled to the same rights and protections as any other person.

The first case , scheduled for argument on Tuesday, F.D.A. v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine, is a challenge to the Food and Drug Administration’s protocols for approving and regulating mifepristone, one of the two drugs used for medication abortions. An anti-abortion physicians’ group argues that the F.D.A. acted unlawfully when it relaxed existing restrictions on the use and distribution of mifepristone in 2016 and 2021. In 2016, the agency implemented changes that allowed the use of mifepristone up to 10 weeks of pregnancy, rather than seven; reduced the number of required in-person visits for dispensing the drug from three to one; and allowed the drug to be prescribed by individuals like nurse practitioners. In 2021, it eliminated the in-person visit requirement, clearing the way for the drug to be dispensed by mail. The physicians’ group has urged the court to throw out those regulations and reinstate the previous, more restrictive regulations surrounding the drug — a ruling that could affect access to the drug in every state, regardless of the state’s abortion politics.

The second case, scheduled for argument on April 24, involves the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (known by doctors and health policymakers as EMTALA ), which requires federally funded hospitals to provide patients, including pregnant patients, with stabilizing care or transfer to a hospital that can provide such care. At issue is the law’s interaction with state laws that severely restrict abortion, like an Idaho law that bans abortion except in cases of rape or incest and circumstances where abortion is “necessary to prevent the death of the pregnant woman.”

Although the Idaho law limits the provision of abortion care to circumstances where death is imminent, the federal government argues that under EMTALA and basic principles of federal supremacy, pregnant patients experiencing emergencies at federally funded hospitals in Idaho are entitled to abortion care, even if they are not in danger of imminent death.

These cases may be framed in the technical jargon of administrative law and federal pre-emption doctrine, but both cases involve incredibly high-stakes issues for the lives and health of pregnant persons — and offer the court an opportunity to shape the landscape of abortion access in the post-Roe era.

These two cases may also give the court a chance to seed new ground for fetal personhood. Woven throughout both cases are arguments that gesture toward the view that a fetus is a person.

If that is the case, the legal rules that would typically hold sway in these cases might not apply. If these questions must account for the rights and entitlements of the fetus, the entire calculus is upended.

In this new scenario, the issue is not simply whether EMTALA’s protections for pregnant patients pre-empt Idaho’s abortion ban, but rather which set of interests — the patient’s or the fetus’s — should be prioritized in the contest between state and federal law. Likewise, the analysis of F.D.A. regulatory protocols is entirely different if one of the arguments is that the drug to be regulated may be used to end a life.

Neither case presents the justices with a clear opportunity to endorse the notion of fetal personhood — but such claims are lurking beneath the surface. The Idaho abortion ban is called the Defense of Life Act, and in its first bill introduced in 2024, the Idaho Legislature proposed replacing the term “fetus” with “preborn child” in existing Idaho law. In its briefs before the court, Idaho continues to beat the drum of fetal personhood, insisting that EMTALA protects the unborn — rather than pregnant women who need abortions during health emergencies.

According to the state, nothing in EMTALA imposes an obligation to provide stabilizing abortion care for pregnant women. Rather, the law “actually requires stabilizing treatment for the unborn children of pregnant women.” In the mifepristone case, advocates referred to fetuses as “unborn children,” while the district judge in Texas who invalidated F.D.A. approval of the drug described it as one that “starves the unborn human until death.”

Fetal personhood language is in ascent throughout the country. In a recent decision , the Alabama Supreme Court allowed a wrongful-death suit for the destruction of frozen embryos intended for in vitro fertilization, or I.V.F. — embryos that the court characterized as “extrauterine children.”

Less discussed but as worrisome is a recent oral argument at the Florida Supreme Court concerning a proposed ballot initiative intended to enshrine a right to reproductive freedom in the state’s Constitution. In considering the proposed initiative, the chief justice of the state Supreme Court repeatedly peppered Nathan Forrester, the senior deputy solicitor general who was representing the state, with questions about whether the state recognized the fetus as a person under the Florida Constitution. The point was plain: If the fetus was a person, then the proposed ballot initiative, and its protections for reproductive rights, would change the fetus’s rights under the law, raising constitutional questions.

As these cases make clear, the drive toward fetal personhood goes beyond simply recasting abortion as homicide. If the fetus is a person, any act that involves reproduction may implicate fetal rights. Fetal personhood thus has strong potential to raise questions about access to abortion, contraception and various forms of assisted reproductive technology, including I.V.F.

In response to the shifting landscape of reproductive rights, President Biden has pledged to “restore Roe v. Wade as the law of the land.” Roe and its successor, Planned Parenthood v. Casey, were far from perfect; they afforded states significant leeway to impose onerous restrictions on abortion, making meaningful access an empty promise for many women and families of limited means. But the two decisions reflected a constitutional vision that, at least in theory, protected the liberty to make certain intimate choices — including choices surrounding if, when and how to become a parent.

Under the logic of Roe and Casey, the enforceability of EMTALA, the F.D.A.’s power to regulate mifepristone and access to I.V.F. weren’t in question. But in the post-Dobbs landscape, all bets are off. We no longer live in a world in which a shared conception of constitutional liberty makes a ban on I.V.F. or certain forms of contraception beyond the pale.

Melissa Murray, a law professor at New York University and a host of the Supreme Court podcast “ Strict Scrutiny ,” is a co-author of “ The Trump Indictments : The Historic Charging Documents With Commentary.”

Kate Shaw is a contributing Opinion writer, a professor of law at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School and a host of the Supreme Court podcast “Strict Scrutiny.” She served as a law clerk to Justice John Paul Stevens and Judge Richard Posner.

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Religion and euthanasia Death is one of the most important things that religions deal with. All faiths offer meaning and explanations for death and dying; all faiths try to find a place for death ...
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In caring for the dying, it is a Christian responsibility to relieve pain and suffering, to the fullest extent possible, not to include active euthanasia. When it is clear that medical intervention will not cure a patient, the primary goal of care should shift to relief from suffering.". Source: Seventh-Day Adventist World Church, "Care for ...
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Euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide (EPAS) are important contemporary societal issues and religious faiths offer valuable insights into any discussion on this topic. This paper explores perspectives on EPAS of the four major world religions, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism, through analysis of their primary texts. A literature search of the American Theological Library ...
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Soheil Sabriseilabi. Understanding the role of religion in attitudes toward euthanasia requires viewing religion as a multidimensional construct. In this study, four dimensions operationalized religion: religiosity, spirituality, afterlife beliefs (afterlife, heaven, and hell), and religious denomination. Using data from 1066 adults interviewed ...
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Number of relevant articles identified by religion. Note: Fig. 1 shows the number of articles that explored the ethics of euthanasia from the perspective of at least one of the major world ...
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life plays a major role in the field of bioethics, more specifically, euthanasia and physician-. assisted suicide. Through the humanistic psychoanalytic view of religion and psychology, Fromm (1978) had theorized that religion promotes the growth of a person's own love and reason for humanity.
Perspectives of major world religions on euthanasia and assisted dying
Perspectives of major world religions on euthanasia and assisted dying Katherine Pettus IAHPC Senior Director of Partnerships & Advocacy A 2010 report based on a study of more than 230 countries by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life claimed that, "worldwide, more than eight-in-ten people identify with a religious group." 1 The religious profile of the world is rapidly changing ...
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Perspectives of Major World Religions regarding Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide: A Comparative Analysis Graham Grove1,2,3,4,5 · Melanie Lovell6,7 · Megan Best8 Accepted: 4 January 2022 / Published online: 29 January 2022 ... and ineligible papers were excluded. The following data were extracted: relevant pri-mary texts and data relevant to ...
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Euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide (EPAS) are important contemporary societal issues and religious faiths offer valuable insights into any discussion on this topic. This paper explores perspectives on EPAS of the four major world religions, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism, through …
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This viewpoint emerged in October 1991 in Drion's essay The self-chosen end of old people (Drion, Citation 1992), which argues for the free distribution of medical means for euthanasia to people of 75 years and older; a proposal later referred to as 'Drion's pill'. Twenty-five years later, in October 2016, this viewpoint re-emerged in a ...
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When it comes to religious point of views on issues, euthanasia is one of the most controversial moral topics of all time. Euthanasia comes from the Greek word Îµá½ Î¸Î±Î½Î±ÏƒÎ¯Î± meaning 'good death. Euthanasia can be defined as "the practice of ending a life in a technique that reduces pain and suffering" ( Eike-Henner ...
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Abstract. I have called this paper 'Euthanasia: A Christian View'. I almost decided to be provocative and call it 'Euthanasia: The Christian View', because, so far as I can see, it is the direct application of the only injunctions of Christ (discussed in the preceding paper) that bear immediately on the subject of euthanasia.But I have refrained, because these injunctions, if so ...
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Exclusively available on IvyPanda. Updated: Feb 21st, 2024. Religions hold different views with respect to euthanasia or mercy-killing. Recently, there has been growing pressure to approve a law that would liberalise this practice in the US. In most religions, this fact is alarming, especially considering the growing strengths in palliative care.
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He wrote 5 essays that touched on the subject of suicide arguing that suicide should be considered a matter of personal choice, and that it is a rational option under some circumstances (RR&D 1). Nearly 500 years later, these positions remain virtually unchanged. Free Essay: Euthanasia and Religion In the world today, medical technology is so ...
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An Argument for Euthanasia Essay. Euthanasia is defined as, "The act or practice of putting to death painlessly a person suffering from an incurable disease." Euthanasia can be traced back as far back as the ancient Greek and Roman civilizations. It was sometimes allowed in these civilizations to help others die.
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The Conflict of Religion and Euthanasia Essay examples. The Conflict of Religion and Euthanasia There are a number of reasons why religious believers would be concerned regarding assisted suicide and voluntary euthanasia. The Church's belief concerning this matter is that if G-d has given the gift of life then it should be "revered and ...
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Essay on Euthanasia in 150 Words. Euthanasia or mercy killing is the act of deliberately ending a person's life. This term was coined by Sir Francis Bacon. Different countries have their perspectives and laws against such harmful acts. The Government of India, 2016, drafted a bill on passive euthanasia and called it 'The Medical Treatment ...
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Here are some examples of euthanasia essay topics and titles we can suggest: The benefits and disadvantages of a physician-assisted suicide. Ethical dilemmas associated with euthanasia. An individual's right to die. Euthanasia as one of the most debatable topics in today's society.
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