Euthanasia

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Euthanasia

Euthanasia, which means "good" or "peaceful" death, has been practiced through the
ages. Doctors have always been dedicated to the task of easing pain and suffering, to make
dying easier. Adding the adjective "active" alters the meaning of euthanasia. The emphasis shifts
from comforting the dying to inducing death. The practice of voluntary euthanasia and assisted
suicide would cause society to devalue all life, especially the lives of the dying, the disabled, and
the elderly.
    We should not understate the agonies involved in chronic pain and suffering. Nobody
wants to see a loved one suffer or make the decisions that accompany medical science's ability
to prolong life. The same technology that keeps people alive today raise a host of questions
concerning the nature and destiny of man himself. Comforting the dying is still preferable to
assisting in their death.
    There are many reasons why, but the main one has to do with how much we value
human life. God views all human life as sacred. He created us in his own image (Genesis
1:26,27), and it is he who has determined our days on earth (Job 14:5). God confirms his great
love for his people, a love that does not cease when we are old or ill. His command that we not
kill one another does not change when we are brain damaged or comatose. Our society,
however, teaches certain...

Submitted by: digitalessays
Date Submitted: 05-05-07 6:12pm
Category: Miscellaneous
Words: 755
Pages: 3.02