Featured Assisted Suicides

In some very special circumstances, I cannot say I would not agree with it being allowed.

My only issue is that people are sinful and sometimes what is good for one then is demanded by others and since we don't have a legal system that allows for common sense, it messes good things up for those who really need it when others demand it as their right...or who will start going down that hill and saying it should able to be mandated and we start getting into forced mercy killings for a better society. Blech!

(I also agree with mercy deaths in some extremely limited circumstances and do believe happens quietly now, although illegal)

 

Assisted suicide? Never, in any circumstance.

Years ago, doctors were sworn to an Hippocratic oath that they would use whatever means necessary to preserve life. They should still be sworn to and held to that same oath.

From wickipedia.com:

At the time of being admitted as a member of the medical profession:

I solemnly pledge myself to consecrate my life to the service of humanity;
I will give to my teachers the respect and gratitude which is their due;
I will practice my profession with conscience and dignity;
The health of my patient will be my first consideration;
I will respect the secrets which are confided in me;
I will maintain by all the means in my power, the honour and the noble traditions of the medical profession;
My colleagues will be my brothers and sisters;
I will not permit considerations of religion, nationality, race, gender, politics, socioeconomic standing, or sexual orientation to intervene between my duty and my patient;
I will maintain the utmost respect for human life; even under threat, I will not use my medical knowledge contrary to the laws of humanity;
I make these promises solemnly, freely and upon my honour.[6]

 

Right.

Methinks it is no longer the "Hippocratic Oath" that they take, but rather the "Hypocrite Oath"

 

Yes. That is correct.

 

It's been a long time since I've posted about anthing like this, but a long time ago I mentioned 2 examples of what I think are justified killings.

One was fictional-- in an old TV western series, a teenage boy somehow got separated from the wagon train, a party of men went looking for him and they saw him tied to a stake with dry brush around it. Knowing that the Indians intended to burn him one man rushed to him, but was shot by an arrow. Then a fired arrow was shot and lit the brush and the boy pleaded for the other man to shoot him, rather than let him burn; which the man did. Were I in either place-- the boy or the man-- I would have done the same thing.

The other example was the World Trade Center on 9-11-01. People were jumping out of windows, inevitably because they were being smothered by gases or there was no escape from flames. I am quite certain I would do that (jump to my death) in the same situation, too. And if someone was beside me, afraid to jump, I would offer my hand to jump together. Would that be 'assisted suicide,' as well as suicide? The first example was not assisted suicide, but killing to avoid an inevitably more torturous death. And that seems to be what this topic is about.

Okay, so nobody wants to go hiking with me or way up in a tall building. I can handle that.

 

God is good. Life is good.

Several good arguments and comments have been made concerning this issue, however, I must ask you one question. Who defines life? If you said God, then who defines the end of life? I would contend that it is God as well. In the case of suicide, do we not then usurp the position of the master of life and death. A person who determines that his life is no longer worth living feels that he can make a more valid decision on his personal worth and existence rather than his all-knowing Creator. Blasphemous don't you think?

I understand the mindset of suicidal individual. I contemplated it twice in my teen years under some troubling circumstances in my life. There was a strong voice that countered this action that said, "Who are you to decide when I am finished with you?" I am glad that I didn't. So many things have happened in these past few years. I can't believe I thought of cutting these years short.

God is good all the time; all the time God is good.

 

Excellent point!

 

I answered the original question in my last post. But since then, "mercy killing" has been brought up. This makes me stop to think. I am in favor of "mercy killing", such as in the fictional case of the boy being burned. But I am against assisted suicide. But, how are they different? It does make me pause to think.

I guess what needs to be present for me to accept it is an imminent death with the possibility of an immediate, more comfortable death. If a healthy but depressed individual wants to end it, I don't think that a doctor should be allowed to help. But I don't think that anyone has this type of scenario in mind.

If a person is in pain, and they are going to die anyway, then I could see helping them out. So, I would like to change my original answer to yes, but with limitations.

 

Isn't that where mankind gets in trouble with God? It (whatever "it" may be) is in the hands of God, except when ..........

Jesus was in agony on the cross. In order to fulfill the scriptures for God's plan of salvation for this world of sinners, Jesus had to die that painful death. Wouldn't we all be in a heap of trouble, if someone decided to end His suffering prematurely and was successful in the attempt?

Even if our hearts are bursting with empathy and compassion at the sight of someones suffering, are we right in the eyes of God, to take matters into our own hands?

IMHO, when we start making exceptions, for whatever reason that seems to be valid, aren't we starting down a slippery slope that will eventually have a long list of exceptions. A list so long that God's will is no longer being considered. Look at societies growing list of "acceptable" ways to prematurely end lives that God created.

If/when we encounter extreme suffering isn't our responsbility to lift that person in prayer and plead for God's mercy to quickly bring them home, if they are His? Or, to decide for ourselves when that will happen? To pray that God will be merciful on the lost? Or, to end what may be God's punishment for those who have rejected Him, on our schedule and not His?

 

Here's my dilemma: I want to say that assisted suicide should be illegal and is wrong. However, as per the fictional example, if I saw someone on fire screaming for help, I would shoot them to put them out of their misery. And I realize that it is hypocritical of me to say that my actions would be ok and others' wouldn't be.

 

I have to wonder if, in a situation such as the fictional character on fire, why one would not have faith to cry out "Father, save them!"

Is God too weak to send a sudden rain to douse the flame? Is He not the same God that brought Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego out of the fiery furnace?

Making split-second decisions to end a person's life is not a godly, nor wise, decision in my opinion.