Respect for life: Euthanasia, with Case Study.

Essay by Smell December 2005

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Euthanasia is defined as the act of bringing about the easy and gentle death of a person, usually someone who is terminally ill or in great pain. Euthanasia is illegal in the United Kingdom but it was legalised in certain circumstances in the Netherlands in 1994 and in some parts of Australia in 1997.

A society called EXIT (also known as The Voluntary Euthanasia Society) is trying to get the law on euthanasia changed. They "support the right to choose" and believe that every human has the right to have some input into their own death, and manner of dying. Some, of course will choose to accept all possible treatments modern technology can offer, while others may decide to put quality of life before quantity and make a decision to use that key to the door marked "Exit.". EXIT believe in letting everyone hold this key, even if it is never used.

They aim to make "dying with dignity" an option to everyone, but to introduce safeguards regarding voluntary euthanasia.

Most Christians are against euthanasia. They believe that life is a gift from God, and that it is sacred. Also, in the New Testament, Jesus heals the sick and the dying, and they believe that this shows that life should be respected and valued, and we should not ever choose to die. Many Christians view euthanasia as murder, and murder is outlawed by the sixth commandment. It is Christian belief that because God gave them life, that only he can take it from them again. In Gods eyes, everyone's body is precious, and has a soul, and so Christians should respect this, and know that nobody should be allowed to choose when to die.

When a Christian goes along with these teachings, he or she cannot possibly say, with...