Suicide and Euthanasia

Suicide and Euthanasia

1. Suicide

   • The deliberate ending of your own life
   • Why?
     • Depression
     • Recent loss or break up of close relationship
     • Heavy use or dependency of alcohol/drugs
     • Severe pain or illness

2. Euthanasia

   • Assisted suicide
   • It is illegal in the UK but is legal in the Netherlands (in certain circumstances)

3. Quotes

   • For
     • "Agape"
     • "Treat others how you want to be treated"
   • Against
     • "Thou shall not murder" (Ten Commandments)
     • "God created man in his own image"
     • "Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit"
     • "There is a time for everything...a time to be born, a time to die"

4. The 4 types of Euthanasia

   • VOLUNTARY - the person concerned asks someone else to helm them die
   • INVOLUNTARY - carried out without the patient's consent because they are unable to decide themselves (e.g. turning off a life support machine for someone in a coma)
   • ACTIVE - when action is taken to bring life to an end
   • PASSIVE - when a decision is made to stop giving someone medication/treatment which will result in them dying

5. Sanctity of Life

   • All life is special and sacred
   • Only God has the right to give and take life
   • Therefore Suicide and Euthanasia goes against the Sanctity of life

6. Christian Views

   • Roman Catholic
     • It is WRONG because they believe that only God can end life. It is a SIN
     • Drugs to relieve pain that may shorten a patient's life is acceptable
   • Church of England
     • It is WRONG
     • However some think that doctors should not keep patients alive if they have no quality of life left
     • Christians are taught to show compassion towards anyone who commits suicide
   • Overall Christian View
     • Suicide and Euthanasia are wrong and should not happen!

7. Muslim View

   • Suicide and Euthanasia are forbidden as no one has the right to choose when to die
   • "Destroy not yourself. Surely Allah is ever merciful to you."

8. Alternatives

   • A hospice is a place where terminally ill people are cared for until they die
     • Christians believe that hospices are good alternatives to euthanasia as they allow the person to die in comfort and with dignity
   • An alternative to suicide is counselling and many Christians volunteer at organisations that offer help