Euthanasia

The word ‘euthanasia’ literally means ‘dying well’.

Active euthanasia is when a person is killed, perhaps by a lethal injection.

Passive euthanasia is where treatment is taken away to allow the person to die.

Active euthanasia is illegal in the UK.

Passive euthanasia is allowed as it is allowing the body to take the natural course towards death.

Christians who are against euthanasia would refer to the Sanctity of Life. We cannot “play God” and decide when someone should die.

- They might say that legalising euthanasia would put us on the slippery slope to worse things.

- They might argue that it would change the relationship between the doctor and the patient.

- Care for those who are suffering has been improved by advances in the hospice movement.

On the other hand some Christians might say that voluntary euthanasia should be legalised because:

- It shows compassion

- Sometimes quality of life is important too

- It would mean that our relatives did not have to see us die.

- God gave us the intelligence to make these sorts of decisions for ourselves.