Euthanasi The Act Of Ending - 989 Words

Alexandra Krizsan Mr. Rietema Christian Ethics December 19, 2014 Euthanasia Euthanasia is the act of ending the life of a person who is suffering from an illness or an incurable condition. Across of the world, euthanasia is illegal, except of the Netherlands and Belgium where it has been legalized. In the United States, euthanasia is legal in three states-Oregon, Washington and Montana. Supporters of euthanasia contend it is a humane way for ill people to end their pain and suffering. They contend that everyone should have the right to end their lives. Opponents of euthanasia argue it is murder, and that it violates the Hippocratic Oath taken by doctors to do no harm. People contend that ill people should have the right to end their†¦show more content†¦Henk’s grandfather had contracted non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, which would have naturally taken his life within a few years. He also had developed a painful thrombosis in his leg, so he asked the physician in the nursing home for help with the pain. Instead of providing pain medication, the doctor quietly ordered nurses to administer overdoses of morphine and withhold food and water. Rather than providing healing or comfort, and without consulting Grandfather Reitsema or his loved ones, this doctor ended the life of Grandfather Reitsema. Henk’s grandmother had not given any indication that it was okay for her husband to be euthanized. Henk explains, â€Å"One never would have imagined him not wanting to hold on to life. He respected the fact that God had given him life.† The Bible does not specifically mention the word â€Å"euthanasia† but it says Bible verses related to that. Exodus 20:13 says â€Å"You shall not murder.† â€Å"Then God said, â€Å"Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness... (Genesis 1:26). The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life. (†­Job†¬ †­33†¬:†­4†¬ NIV). Job 14-5 â€Å"A person’s days are determined; you have decreed the number of his months and have set limits he cannot exceed.† In the book of Job, when Job is in great pain, his wife says to him â€Å"Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die!† But he said to her, â€Å"You speak as one of the foolish women speaks.