Is Euthanasia Ethically Wrong?

As a result of this, many Catholics agree with the Catholic Church’s views on the topic of euthanasia in accordance with their faith. However, as the right of any human, a person can gather their own opinions on certain subjects, and there is also a presence of Catholics who are in favour of euthanasia. As with any human being, our decisions are based upon our moral beliefs and conscience, and this is likewise with Catholics. As stated in the Catechism, a person’s conscience is a very personal and important thing, and is also considered to be God’s voice acting within a person. Although contradictory to the Catholic Church’s teachings about euthanasia, there are also Catholics who approve and encourage euthanasia due to their

Father Frank Pavone states on his article “Brief Reflections on Euthanasia” that “No matter how ill a patient is, we never have a right to put that person to death, we have a duty to care for and preserve life” along with “There are groups in our country pushing for the right to use lethal injections on the seriously ill, or to remove their food and water. We must oppose such moral nonsense with all our strength.” Euthanasia is a fine see-saw and the people who are pro life believe that if we start to allow euthanasia on the ill, eventually it will become an easy way out to just about anyone who is having any sort of hardship in their life. The other topic of argument is the religious aspect of this issue. In “Brief Reflections” it also states that “Our society has created a world in which it is always possible and always considered right to take the easy way out of problems, suffering and death. That way is completely against the example Jesus set for us; it is against Christian values. We, as Christians, must form a counter-culture. We do not pray for an easy, free or painless life and death. Rather we should pray for strength to sustain and understand the life God gave us to live.” People believe that euthanasia is messing with “god’s plan for us” because he “decides” when it is time for us to die. Now, in the case that someone is in intolerable pain, it is our duty to

Also the Church says, "The temptation becomes all the greater to resolve the problem of suffering by eliminating it at the root, by hastening death so that it occurs at the moment considered most suitable." (Ionyo) There is always value to suffering as we as human beings should realize that suffering is very important of the religious life. Another standard of Church, "We as Christians should remember that beyond this life there is heaven." With euthanasia, there always is the question of ethics and morals for involved.

Euthanasia is defined as a gentle and easy death. This term is used for people who want to end their own lives peacefully. There are two types of euthanasia. Active euthanasia occurs when a physician kills the patient by means of drugs. The other type is passive euthanasia. This process occurs when a physician holds water, food, and drugs from the patient. The argument whether humans should help other human beings die due to sickness, old age, disabilities, and even the lack of motivation to live has been an issue since ancient times. Although, this topic has made headlines in recent years (Pickert). Countries have begun to make it legal, and some states such as Oregon have made it legal to have the “right to die” since 1997 (“State-by-state Guide to Physician Assisted Suicide”). Should euthanasia be legal in the United States as a federal law? Euthanasia is ethically and morally wrong because humans would be playing the role of God, physicians would disown the Hippocratic oath, it is against most religions, and it would lead down a slippery slope to where euthanasia becomes a cheap “treatment” for the sick.

Euthanasia is a popular debate among our society today. It raises major concerns in terms of morals and ethics. Some may argue that euthanasia is morally wrong, while others think as human beings; we have the right to self-determination and should be able to choose our own fate. Growing up in a Catholic family and being raised as a true believer of God, I think that euthanasia causes an ethical dilemma.

Euthanasia, or physician assisted suicide, is an important and controversial topic in our society today, and (under the correct conditions) should both be considered legal and morally acceptable. In fact, throughout history euthanasia has been a debate in many countries, some areas accepting the practice, whereas others find it unacceptable. Many people and professionals continue to refer to the Hippocratic Oath, an vow stating the proper conduct for doctors, and it's famous words "Do no harm." However, when it comes down to whatever holds people back, whether it is their views on religion or oaths from many years ago, it should be considered a correct practice. In fact, in the case of Vacco v. Quill, one point raised was that "Over time, the Hippocratic Oath has been changed, and deleted. In order to "do-no-harm" one would end suffering instead of prolonging it." With the use of Supreme Court cases, and professional psychologist and medical quotations, one can see the clear reasons that this topic must be allowed. In the end, euthanasia should definitely be considered correct both legally and morally due to one's legal rights, sensible ethical values, and the multiple positive benefits upon the legalization of euthanasia.

In 1995, Pope John Paul II said, “Euthanasia is a grave violation of the law of God, since it is the deliberate and morally unacceptable killing of a human person (“Euthanasia”).” The quote defines the Christian general point of view on euthanasia. It is due to the Christian belief that God

Euthanasia, the ‘mercy killing’, has definitely been one of the most difficult ethical dilemmas. Euthanasia is defined “an action or an omission, aimed at and causally implicated in, the death of another for her/his own sake” (Foot, 1997, as cited in Robert, 2004, p. 145). Euthanasia differs from murder, because the action causing the death is for the sake of the person to be killed. Someone might say that the person wanted to die anyway, so why ending his or her lives can be wrong? Is active euthanasia –acting to end the life of another- ever a right moral action? It is not an easy debate whether it is right or wrong to help end someone’s life. Some people might argue that

Being that one in every fifty deaths are accounted for by the use of euthanasia, it has become a serious controversy on whether or not it should be outlawed or not. Multiple accounts of assisted suicide clearly display this debate. Whether it is a botched surgery, a chronic pain, or a terminal illness, there are better treatments that spare the life of a patient, also making the time and money invested in said patient well worth it. Religions across the globe, no matter how different, all agree, that life is about a connection with others, as well as a connection to yourself. To purposely give up on this freedom, is simply ludicrous. While euthanasia can be viewed as an easy solution to end the pains of the suffering, this immoral practice

Choices influence the way we live our everyday lives, whether they be tiny, seemingly inconsequential decisions, or whether they be life changing. The Catholic Church teaches us that as humans, God has given us free will, free will to make decisions for ourselves and in so doing, we have the ability to sin. Sin is an action violating God’s will. It is from Revelation and Natural Law that the Catholic Church’s ethical principles stem from. Principles govern our conduct, and what we define what is ethical and unethical by. A contemporary ethical issue is Euthanasia. Euthanasia is defined as ‘the deliberate action causing the death of another person to spare them suffering.’ The issue is the subject of an ongoing worldwide debate for

Matthew Donnelly has conducted research on the use of X-rays for a little over 30 years. Now, skin cancer riddled his tortured body. He had lost his nose, his left hand, two fingers on his right hand, and part of his jaw. He was left blind and was slowly deteriorating. Doctors estimated that he had a year to live. Lying in bed with teeth clenched from the excruciating pain, he pleaded to be put out of his misery.... Then, one day, Matthew's brother Harold shot and killed his brother to relieve him of the unbearable pain his brother was living in. Harold was tried for murder. For years, people have been debating the morality and legality of an assisted suicide and euthanasia. There are currently eighteen states in America in the midsts of determining whether this should be approved or not. The legalization of a physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia is a must to help patients who are suffering.

It’s essential to understand that there are a few forms of euthanasia. The first form would be DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) which translates to letting someone die. Under this circumstance we are no further helping someone who is suffering from a serious illness for the sake of mercy. DNR is mostly legal under many circumstances such as living will. This can also entail a person to refuse any further treatment toward their ailment that keeps them alive. As a result the person will eventually pass away.

It is a fact that when we talk about euthanasia, it generates a disagreement between the general public. This is a topic that many want to avoid, but others want to inquire a little more. “Euthanasia is a termination of a very ill person’s life in order to relieve them from their sufferings” (Ethic of Euthanasia- Introduction). This essay will discuss the ethical implication as well of the religion implication this topic generates.

Moreover, euthanasia is restricted by the church. This is another important point that we should consider, especially for religious people. According to “Death and Dignity” it is emphasized that “Life is a gift from God and it is only God who can take it back”. Christian’s point of view considers euthanasia as a crime against church, religion and God. Christians consider this as an immoral act. When considering the religious factor as well, we can conclude that no one has the right to take control over our lives, especially when we are unconscious.

The World Medical Association (WMA) defines euthanasia as “the act of deliberately ending the life of a patient, even at the patient’s own request or at the request of close relatives.” Euthanasia refers to physician-assisted suicide, mercy killing and withdrawal of unwanted medical treatment (Taqi 266). It is debatably one of the most controversial issues in the fields of theology and medicine. Euthanasia stems from the Greek word for “a good death”.