Matters of Life and Death
Orginis and value of the universe
responses to arguments against life after death
origins and values of human life
abortion
life after death
sanctity of life
euthanasia
issues in the natural world
Geogres Lemaitre (Catholic priest)
practice of killing a person to intentionally relieve their suffering; literal meaning "good death"
Active euthanasia means to deliberately end a life e.g. through an overdose of drug (legal in countries like Canada or Netherlands)
Passive euthanasia is when food or medication is withdrawn, leading to the death of the patient
Assissted suicide is when a person needs help to die and is given it - Dignitas (legal clinic where a fatal dose of drugs is given to the patient for them to take) in Switzerland
Voluntary euthanasia is when the person is to die requests death
non-voluntary euthanasia is when the person who is to die is unconscious, incapacitated and unable to make the choice themselves so someone does it for them
non religious perspectives
for a humanist, quality of life is more important than sustaining a life that is not worth living
some people argue that legalising euthanasia could lead to a slippery slope where people who felt like they were a burden would be pressured into dying
many will support euthanasia when a person will die anyway or are suffering from an incurable terminal illness - it is the most loving thing to do (Situational ethics)
sanctity of life - euthanasia as a form of murder violating one of the Ten Commandments "You shall not murder"
the belief that because God created life, it belongs to him and he decides when it begins and ends
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Some Christians will also argue that suffering can be a part of God's plan for us - it might be a test or some positive outcome might emerge from it
Some Christians will also argue that suffering can be a part of God's plan for us - it might be a test or some positive outcome might emerge from it
Belief in the sanctity of life means that many Christians, especially Catholics, believe that directly cutting life short is unacceptable even if someone requests death and is in lots of pain "Whatever its motives and means, direct euthanasia consists in putting an end to the lives of handicapped, sick or dying persons. It is morally unacceptable. " (CCC 2277)
Even if they oppose active euthanasia, many Christians believe that passive euthanasia ( withdrawing treatment that is sustaining or extending life) can be acceptable if medical procedures are simply drawing out suffering.
CCC says the removal of "burdensome" or "disproportionate" treatment can be permissible
Hospice Care
Many Christians stress the importance of compassionate palliative care (Treatment given to the terminally ill to relieve or prevent suffering)
CCC strongly encourages palliative care - "special form of charity". Also allows the giving of painkills to relieve pain even if they speed up death as long as death was not the intented result
removal of a foetus from the womb before it can survive
England, Scotland, Wales abortion is legal before the 24th week of pregnancy if two doctors agree that the pregnancy poses a mental or physical risk to the mother or child
In Northern Ireland, abortion is illegal but in 2018 the people voted to say they wanted it to be legal
non religious perspectives
many atheists support a woman's right to choose whether she has an abortion
humanists stress that maintaining a person's quality of life is more important than protecting a potential life
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