Euthanasia By: Jessica Ladd

What is euthanasia? The act or practice of ending the life of an individual suffering from a terminal illness or an incurable condition, as by lethal injection or the suspension of extraordinary medical treatment.

No matter what the ailment, a human being is always human and always has a right to life which nobody of any philosophical, political or religious persuasion is able to take away. In fact, it is precisely when life is afflicted by weakness and illness that it is all the MORE deserving of our care.

"Killing a human being" is not a very nice concept "Killing a human being" is not a very nice concept. To make it more acceptable, some people start playing with the language. They say, for example, that the one who is incurably ill or comatose is a "vegetable". A vegetable? What kind? A cucumber? Carrot?

 There is a great difference between purposely killing someone and allowing a person to die peacefully with dignity. We must remember that "what a sick person needs, besides medical care, is love, the human and supernatural warmth with which the sick person can and ought to be surrounded by all those close to him or her, parents and children, doctors and nurses" (Declaration on Euthanasia).

The Catechism says.. 2276 Those whose lives are diminished or weakened deserve special respect. Sick or handicapped persons should be helped to lead lives as normal as possible. 2277 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. Thus an act or omission which, of itself or by intention, causes death in order to eliminate suffering constitutes a murder gravely contrary to the dignity of the human person and to the respect due to the living God, his Creator. The error of judgment into which one can fall in good faith does not change the nature of this murderous act, which must always be forbidden and excluded. People that are sick deserve life. They should be helped by people like us to live regularly. Euthanasia is morally wrong. It is not our right or obligation

2278 Discontinuing medical procedures that are burdensome, dangerous, extraordinary, or disproportionate to the expected outcome can be legitimate; it is the refusal of "over-zealous" treatment. Here one does not will to cause death; one's inability to impede it is merely accepted. The decisions should be made by the patient if he is competent and able or, if not, by those legally entitled to act for the patient, whose reasonable will and legitimate interests must always be respected. 2279 Even if death is thought imminent, the ordinary care owed to a sick person cannot be legitimately interrupted. The use of painkillers to alleviate the sufferings of the dying, even at the risk of shortening their days, can be morally in conformity with human dignity if death is not willed as either an end or a means, but only foreseen and tolerated as inevitable Palliative care is a special form of disinterested charity. As such it should be encouraged. The decisions of a person’s life should be up to them, not anyone else. Even if a person is going to die, there is no reason you to speed up the process.

Through the Catholic Lens Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 says, “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted.” The Magisterial Document Evangelium Vitae says, “Even when not motivated by a selfish refusal to be burdened with the life of someone who is suffering, euthanasia must be called a false mercy, and indeed a disturbing "perversion" of mercy. True "compassion" leads to sharing another's pain; it does not kill the person whose suffering we cannot bear. Moreover, the act of euthanasia appears all the more perverse if it is carried out by those, like relatives, who are supposed to treat a family member with patience and love, or by those, such as doctors, who by virtue of their specific profession are supposed to care for the sick person even in the most painful terminal stages.” (John Paul II Evangelium Vitae p.66)

In Conclusion.. Euthanasia is morally wrong. God does not want you to take control of His plan. We have an obligation as Catholics to see that this procedure is stopped. Visit this website to see how you can help! http://www.hospicepatients.org/activism.html

References http://www.priestsforlife.org/euthanasia/euthrefl.html http://www.hospicepatients.org/activism.html