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Christian views:Christian view on Euthanasia and Reason given by proponents of Euthanasia

Answer Text:
Christian views on issues related to Science and Technology.
- Christian response to issues related to science and technology is based on what is regarded as sound Christian ethical or moral principles.
- To arrive at correct moral decisions, Christians use the bible which is
regarded as the source of faith and morals, church tradition or the authoritative teaching of church leaders and right reason.
(a) Euthanasia.
- Euthanasia is a Greek word which means an easy and painless death.
- The word also refers to the competent and sympathetic help given to a dying person to experience love and care.
- Euthanasia is also referred to as “mercy killing”.
- Euthanasia may be voluntary. It is voluntary when it is applied to an individual with his/her consent and it is
involuntary when it is applied without the individual’s consent.
- Euthanasia may be carried out by switching off life-supporting machine of a person in a coma, leaving a patient exposed to cold so that he or she catches pneumonia and dies, or administering an overdose of medicine to
the patient thus causing death.
- proponents of euthanasia give the following reasons for it:
(i) Human beings have a right to choose a dignified death instead of degrading and unbearable life.
(ii) Sympathetic help given to a dying
person makes one experience love and care instead of negligence.
(iii) Some members of society may demand the removal of useless and burdensome members.
(iv) It is wrong to spend the wealth of a family
on a dying person and leave the family members in poverty.
(v) People suffering from terminal illnesses with no cure such as cancer or HIV/AIDS prolonged suffering would prefer death.
Christian view on Euthanasia.
(a) Some patients have recovered after years of a deep coma, thus switching off life-supporting machine is morally wrong.
(b) Euthanasia is murder which is against God’s commandment “You shall not kill” (Exodus 20:13).
(c) A person in a coma or suffering severely is helpless and cannot make right decision in regards to his/her life.
- Some of the relatives and friends would want a person to die in order to ‘grab’ his/her wealth.
- This implies a purely materialistic concept of life.
(d) Euthanasia is against medical ethos which demands that doctors and nurses work for the sustenance of human life and alleviation of suffering but not to terminate it.
(e) Euthanasia is contrary to the teachings and works of Jesus Christ in the restoration of human life.
- Christians believe that Jesus has power over sickness and through His name, all sicknesses are healed.
(f) Accepting Euthanasia discourages medical research on vaccines that may cure various diseases.
- Human beings may fail in responsibility as co-creators with god.