Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide is an ongoing issue around the world

Fear that medical advancements no longer allow death to be a serene moment, instead prolonging death

Excellent example of the effects of moral relativism

Active Euthanasia: Deliberate killing of someone with the intention of ending all suffering

Passive Euthanasia: withholding or withdrawing life support, nutrition, or water without a person’s consent, with the specific intention of ending that person’s life

Assisted Suicide: providing a person with the means to end his/her life

Doctor-Assisted Death: physician-assisted suicide and active euthanasia performed by a physician

Euthanasia and Doctor-Assisted Suicide is ALWAYS wrong

The good of the sanctity of human life, that life that God bestowed on us, can never be sacrificed for the sake of the good self-determination

Against the 6th Commandment, “Thou shall not kill”

Life is always good and may never be taken

“Human life is sacred because from its beginning it involves the creative action of God and it remains for ever in a special relationship with the Creator, who is its sole end. God alone is the Lord of life from its beginning until its end: no one can under any circumstance claim for himself the right directly to destroy an innocent human being.” CCC 2258

Judgment that life is not worth living◦ Arrogant view that has lead to lives being taken

throughout history Euthanasia and Suicide Murder Genocide

Euthanizing and forgoing extraordinary measures are two separate issues

Extraordinary measures: any measures that are disproportionate to the expected results OR measures that impose an excessive burden on the patient and family

Proper nourishment (food and water)

Ordinary medical care:◦ Offer reasonable

hope of benefit◦ Are not unduly

burdensome to the patient or family

Anything not primarily considered ordinary medical care

Consider these factors:◦ Degree of complexity◦ Amount of risk involved◦ Cost and accessibility◦ State of the sick person◦ His resources

The person is placing himself in God’s hands and prepares to leave this life

Maintains ordinary means of health care

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

Pain relievers are a morally acceptable way of subduing suffering◦ Some choose not to take pain relievers

Pain relief is still acceptable even if it has the secondary, but not intended, effect of hastening the end of life

A person is dying of cancer which has metastasized throughout his body. The disease causes the man to go into a coma and he must be fed intravenously and use a respirator. His kidneys fail and it becomes clear that the situation is not reversible

Medical technology is not providing any hope of recovery or benefit at this point; it is prolonging death

The respirator has now become an extraordinary measure, so turning it off would be morally acceptable.

No one enjoys suffering, nor should anyone wish for someone to experience it

We must remember that we have been baptized into Christ’s passion, death and resurrection◦ We share in our Lord’s cross, and that may be

very painful at times◦ We are united with Christ with our suffering

It is VERY difficult to understand the purpose of suffering

But…by uniting our suffering with Christ’s, we expiate (atone—make amends) the hurt caused by our sins and help expiate the sins of others

Sometimes suffering will finally heal the wounds that have divided families

Faith in the resurrected Lord teaches us that while we live on earth, it is not our abiding home.

St. Francis of Assisi spoke of “Sister Death” as a friend who carries us from this life to the Father’s house.

We should not fear death

The vulnerable may be pressured to to seek an earlier death by third parties◦ Danger may increase as health resources

decrease or become more expensive

The role of the physician and trust in him would be undermined

Palliative care would be marginalized

How is suffering defined? What about the depressed, infirm, frail, etc.

Diminish respect for human life Erode the basic trust that human life will be

protected◦ Essential trust to have for the functioning of any

society

“…I will neither give a deadly drug to anyone if asked for it, nor will I make a suggestion to this effect…”

“First, do no harm.”

Secularism Moral relativism Radical personal autonomy The growing AIDS epidemic Families have fewer children Emphasis on reducing the cost of

healthcare

Netherlands (1984). In 1990, 9% of deaths were D.A.S. or euthanasia

Oregon: “Death with Dignity” Act (1997); Washington; Montana

Belgium: 2002 Switzerland: euth. not legalized, doctors

aren’t punished for D.A.S. Northern Territory of Australia: 2006

“Regulations” are in place, but a ‘slippery slope’ occurs◦ Records are difficult to maintain and can be

altered or not maintained◦ People argue that “suffering” is a relative term◦ When a person is unconscious, others are

responsible for his/her decision

Active Euth.

D.A.S. Morphine OD intended to kill

Total

w/ Consent 2,300 400 3,159 5,859

w/o Consent 1,000 4,941 5,941

Total 3,300 400 8,100 11,800

Total population (1991) 15,022,000

Total deaths (1991) 135,200

Euthanasia deaths 11,800

Euth. as percent of total deaths

9%

http://www.leaderu.com/orgs/tul/ott-euthanasia.html#lessons

http://www.catholicenquiry.com/life-and-death/what-is-the-churchs-position-on-euthanasia.html

http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?id=307

“Going to the House of the Father”. Ontario Conference of Catholic Bishops. April 2007

COLF pamphlet entitled: Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide: Urgent Questions!

http://www.euthanasia.com/hollchart.html