The Sanctity of Human LifeThe Sanctity of Human LifeThe Sanctity of Human LifeThe Sanctity of Human Life• Abortion• Euthanasia• Suicide• Capital

Punishment• Serving in

Military, Police• Human

Engineering

• Abortion• Euthanasia• Suicide• Capital

Punishment• Serving in

Military, Police• Human

Engineering

The Sanctity of Human LifeThe Sanctity of Human Life Is euthanasia a merciful way of

preventing suffering? Is suicide an acceptable way to

terminate one’s life? Is it morally wrong to execute a

criminal? May a soldier or police officer to

kill in the line of duty? What moral implications are

related to human engineering?

Man: product of creation, not evolution• Gen. 2:7• Acts 17:25• 1 Tim. 6:13

Man: product of creation, not evolution• Gen. 2:7• Acts 17:25• 1 Tim. 6:13

Foundation PrinciplesFoundation Principles

Only Creator has right to terminate the life of a human being• Gen. 9:6• Ex. 20:13• Ex. 21:12• Lev. 24:21

Only Creator has right to terminate the life of a human being• Gen. 9:6• Ex. 20:13• Ex. 21:12• Lev. 24:21

Foundation PrinciplesFoundation Principles

Except when God Except when God delegates that delegates that

right (e.g. capital right (e.g. capital punishment, war, punishment, war, etc. (etc. (Rm. 13:1-4Rm. 13:1-4))

Except when God Except when God delegates that delegates that

right (e.g. capital right (e.g. capital punishment, war, punishment, war, etc. (etc. (Rm. 13:1-4Rm. 13:1-4))

“When life is not good it deserves neither protection

nor preservation”

“When life is not good it deserves neither protection

nor preservation”

EuthanasiaEuthanasia

What is meant by a “good life”?

“To be human is to be self-aware, consciously related to others, capable of rationality in a measure at least significant to support some initiative. When these things are absent, or cannot ever come to be, there is neither a potential nor an actual person.”Joseph Fletcher

The Atlantic MonthlyVol. 22, No. 4, April 1968

Joseph FletcherThe Atlantic Monthly

Vol. 22, No. 4, April 1968

From two Greek words:

Euthanasia’s MeaningEuthanasia’s Meaning

eu = well or goodthanos = death

It thus means to die well, easy, or without pain. In modern society it has come to refer to terminating human life [i.e. “mercy killing”]

History of Euthanasia

Greeks: respected aged, practiced infanticide

Spartans: euthanized weak youth Plato, Aristotle – discouraged

rearing deformed children South Sea Islands: abortion,

infanticide Sardinia: old men killed with clubs 1938 – Euthanasia Society

Euthanasia Has Many Supporters Many duped by emotional

“merciful death” arguments Most vocal advocates are

ruthless: Dr. William Duke George Paulson Joseph Fletcher Dr. Glanville Willams

• Active• Passive• Voluntary• Mandatory

4 KINDS OF EUTHANASIA

GENERAL ACCEPTANCE OF EUTHANASIA

GENERAL ACCEPTANCE OF EUTHANASIA

The general acceptance of euthanasia in modern America

is evident in:

• “Dr. Death”• “Infant Doe”• Internists’ Survey• Newsweek report

• “Dr. Death”• “Infant Doe”• Internists’ Survey• Newsweek report

• Dr. Robert Cooke

• Abortion’s Acceptance

• Dr. Robert Cooke

• Abortion’s Acceptance

Why Is Euthanasia Accepted?

Why Is Euthanasia Accepted?

Value of life is less!

Historical shock has dulled!

God has been dismissed!

Value of life is less!

Historical shock has dulled!

God has been dismissed!

Biblical Answers

Active Euthanasia – murder, sinful (Ex. 20:13; Gen. 9:6)Active Euthanasia – murder, sinful (Ex. 20:13; Gen. 9:6)

Biblical Answers

Volunteer EuthanasiaVolunteer Euthanasia

Biblical incidents, acts of ungodly men (1 Sam. 31:4-5; 2 Sam. 17:23; 1 Kings 16:18; Matt. 27:5)

Wayne Jackson lists three biblical premises violated in suicide

1.Asserts man is autonomous (Psalm 100:3; cf. Ezek 18:4)a.Only God has right to determine

when life should end2.Self-murder (Rev. 21:8; 22:15)3.Robs God of service (Eccl. 12:13;

cf. Phil. 1:20)4.Act of supreme selfishness

Sinfulness of SuicideSinfulness of Suicide

Biblical Answers

Passive and Mandatory EuthanasiaPassive and Mandatory Euthanasia We have biblical guidance over

life, death, and preservation of life Instances of euthanasia in Bible No specific teaching on intricacies of

the natural and artificial means of preserving life

We live in a time where the average life span in American continues to increase each year. 1930 - average life expectancy for

all gender and races in the U.S. was 59.7 years.

In 2004 that number steadily climbed to 77.9 years.

Mindset of Society Concerning Euthanasia

Mindset of Society Concerning Euthanasia

Many modern advances in the science and medical fields that correlate to our longer life spans. In 1947 the first person was

saved by means of defibrillation. Since then millions of lives have

been saved by this one devise. This allowed people to live years

beyond what was previously expected

Various vaccinations used to stem the onset of various plagues • Smallpox eradicated in 1980• Fewer than 500 with polio in world• Longer for many by additional

medicinal breakthroughs • Advanced surgical procedures

and medicines allow longer life [radiation, chemo therapy, dialysis, laser surgeries, etc]

These factors produce a mindset concerning the quality of life The thought of a nice and peaceful death

permeates into our societal belief system. Conversely, the thought of pain and

suffering in dying is not at all desirable [it is natural to want to live our final years in peace]

Thus, a more tolerant view of “mercy killing”/euthanasia (i.e. hastening death) of a person who is seriously or terminally ill or injured to bring relief to the individual.

Passive – a refusal to use life sustaining medical equipment to prolong life where there is no [medically] prospect of recovery

Active – taking purposefully action to end a life, for some it is an aided suicide

Two Types of Euthanasia Being Considered at This Time:

Medical Treatment

Comatose

Minimally Conscious State

(MCS)

Vegetative State (PS)

Persistent Vegetative State

(PVS)

Pertinent Terms to UnderstandPertinent Terms to Understand

A person might receive a feeding tube for an individual whose mouth, trachea or another area of the body which does not allow him to chew and/or swallow food

Another might receive a feeding tube due to his being in a vegetative state

Purpose of Understanding These Terms

The intent for the first patient is to provide “life support” while he nurses back to health The intent for the second person is to provide

life support with the sum hope that he regains consciousness

Purpose of Understanding These Terms

(cont.)(cont.)

This circumstance makes decisions

difficult

This circumstance makes decisions

difficult

• In both cases the intent is to save life

• Reason for removing life support (respirator or feeding tube) is not to destroy life, but to realize there is no hope for life and thus discontinue artificial means of sustaining life

Purpose of Understanding These Terms

(cont.)(cont.)

Dilemmas Surrounding “Mercy Killing”

Desire the ever improving means by which life can be prolonged or saved

But, reached a point we can keep someone alive for years

The means by which we keep a person alive creates our dilemma regarding euthanasia

Dilemmas Surrounding “Mercy Killing”

Extended comatose state with no perceived possibility of consciousness

Vegetative state (or PVS) with no perceived possibility of recovery

Someone terminal, but conscious and in severe pain

Ethical DilemmasEthical Dilemmas

Dilemmas Surrounding “Mercy Killing”

Is it wrong to “actively” end another person’s life?

Who has authority to judge what is a “good cause” to end life?

Are we to respect the desire of a patient desiring to be taken off life support when they are alive (alert)?

Ethical QuestionsEthical Questions

Biblical ConclusionsBiblical Conclusions1.Active Euthanasia is sin

a.Even if patient is in pain or struggle

b.Even if patient wished his life be ended

2.Passive Euthanasia is not sina.Artificial means continues

while there is hope – ends when hope is lost

WHAT ARE CHRISTIANS TO DO?

Do not be fooled (Eph. 4:14; Col. 2:8; Ps. 1:1)

Respect All life! (Job 1:21; Gen. 1:26-27; Pr. 6:16-17; Acts 17:25, 28)

Do good to all (Gal. 6:10; Ex. 23:7) Do not allow handicaps to devalue

human life (Ex. 4:11) Become brother’s keeper (Pr. 24:11)

THE TRAGIC FAILINGS! No knowledge of the inner man Confusion as to who would become

a candidate Indecision as to the final judge

• Patient – incompetent, drugged• Physician – trust ruined • Family – estate mongers rejoice• State – Nazi Germany reborn

Job 1:21Job 1:21

Nations that fail to resist euthanasia are described

in Deut. 28:49-50

Nations that fail to resist euthanasia are described

in Deut. 28:49-50