Euthanasia Essay - Religious Views on Assisted Suicide

Official Religious Views on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide This essay is dedicated to the expression of the various official views of religious bodies within our nation. Most major denominations are represented. These religions have long been the custodians of the truth, serving to check the erratic and unpredictable tendencies of political, judicial and social bodies which would have Americans killing off their elderly and handicapped. The National Association of Evangelicals believe that human beings are made in the image of God and are, therefore, of inestimable worth. God has given people the highest dignity of all creation. Such human dignity prohibits euthanasia, that is actively causing a persons death.†¦show more content†¦Jewish tradition holds the preservation of human life as one of its supreme moral values. It takes precedence over virtually all other moral values to the degree that only the violation of three cardinal sins (idolatry, adultery and murder) in limited circumstances can claim precedence over the imperative to preserve life. Nevertheless, Judaism -- acutely linked to the reality of the human condition - realizes there are circumstances in which a person might long for death. The Talmud reports of Rabbi Judah the Prince suffering great pain from an illness and his righteous maidservant praying for his death as an end to his suffering. At least one commentator cites this passage as an approbation of praying for the merciful death for one suffering in pain from illness. Even with this appreciation of our human reality, Jewish Law does not reduce the mandate that we preserve life, even under the most challenging conditions. While rabbinic authorities, ancient and modern, debate whether under limited circumstances medical treatments may be withheld from a suffering person (thus, no longer delaying an inevitable death), it is abundantly clear that one may not proactively hasten death. At the same time, Jewish Law would endorse the aggressive palliation of pain to a degree not currently practiced in the medical profession. Rabbinic authorities place such treatment under the rubric of loving ones neighbor as ones selfShow MoreRelatedThe Euthanasia And Assisted Suicide1505 Words   |  7 Pageshave an assisted suicide death, which could cause several issue with the family members. Or if the child of the ill or elderly parent has to decide whether their mom or dad should go forward with active euthanasia, could also cause some issues amongst the family. E uthanasia and assisted suicide is a way for family members and friends to be able to say their goodbyes to their loved one and know that they won’t be suffering for much longer. First, this essay is going to explore what euthanasia and assistedRead MoreThe Ethics of Euthanasia Essay1742 Words   |  7 PagesCarolina, physician-assisted suicide is illegal. Luckily, her father passed away this year and is finally free of pain and suffering. However, if physician-assisted suicide was legal, her father would not have had to suffer as long as he did. Before we explore the sides of physician-assisted suicide, let’s go over exactly what physician-assisted suicide entails. When the topic of physician-assisted suicide comes up, many individuals believe it is the same as euthanasia. Euthanasia involves a physicianRead MorePhysician Assisted Suicide Should Be Legalized1181 Words   |  5 Pagesenduring the pain because it would be illegal to kill you. 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So far, the Netherlands is the only jurisdiction in the world that permits euthanasia; it also permits assisted suicide (The state of Oregon permits assisted suicide also.) The difference between assisted suicide and euthanasia all comes down to the last act- the act without which theRead MoreArguments Against Legalized Euthanasia Essay example1143 Words   |  5 Pages The way a person goes through the process of dying and accepts death is closely related to the way the persons society and culture view the process. A persons family, cultural values, social and medical institutions are all factors that form part of the context in which individuals die (Dickinson and Leming 13). In past years, death was an accepted and natural part of life. Unlike today, death was common to occur at home with family and friends present. Advances in health, medicine andRead MoreEuthanasi Ethical And Legal Issues Within The Australian Context1550 Words   |  7 Pageschallenging to reconcile than that of euthanasia. The legalisation of euthanasia continues to be passionately debated. It has been a pertinent issue in human rights discourse as it affects ethical and legal issues pertaining to both the patient and the health care practitioner (Bartels Otlowski, 2010). The following essay will define euthanasia and make the distinction between active, passive, voluntary, non-voluntary, involuntary euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide. Relevant legal issues withinRead MoreEuthanasia, And Physician Assisted Suicide863 Words   |  4 Pagesthe option to cease existence. Others take the view, we didn’t choose our birth, and therefore our death isn’t ours to choose. This causes debate on moral, ethical and legal grounds. This has led to defining the process under two separate terms for legal purposes. They are: euthanasia, and physician assisted suicide. Internationally, assisted suicide is a doctor prescribing drugs that end life. The patient is responsible for taking them. Euthanasia is the medication administered by doctors. TodayRead MoreActive Euthanasia: Physician Assisted Suicide is Wrong Essay1523 Words   |  7 PagesActive Euthanasia: Physician Assisted Suicide is Wrong The issue at hand is whether physician-assisted suicide should be legalized for patients who are terminally ill and/or enduring prolonged suffering. In this debate, the choice of terms is central. The most common term, euthanasia, comes from the Greek words meaning good death. Sidney Hook calls it voluntary euthanasia, and Daniel C. Maguire calls it death by choice, but John Leo calls it cozy little homicides. Eileen Doyle points