Euthanasia: Compassion or Murder?

Euthanasia: Compassion or Murder?

2005022

Topic # 0012

Introduction:

A. Dr. Leo Alexander was a consultant to the secretary of war in the Nuremburg Trials.

1. Had extraordinary access to Nazi war criminals in medical community.

2. 1949: Dr. Alexander argued that so called “compassionate killing” of the terminally ill inevitable set the stage for the holocaust.

3. he wrote in the NE Journal of Medicine:

B. Euthanasia is garnering more attention these days.

1. On 3/18 – country became consumed w/the Terry Schiavo case in FL.

a) These events prompted this lesson.

2. There is a growing culture of death in America.

a) Euthanasia Society of America – started 1938.

b) Hemlock Society

c) Exit; Voluntary Euthanasia Legalization Society; society for the right to die, Inc.

d) AMA endorses Euthanasia.

C. Current Euthanasia is illegal in US. But.

1. Oregon passed law allowing Euthanasia – but currently under review by US Sup Ct.

D. Euthanasia is a product of 20^th century medical success.

1. People who would have formerly died – now kept alive by advanced medical treatments.

2. Brought on difficult ethical decisions.

3. Slogans: “right to die;” “the choice not to suffer;” “death with dignity;” “doctor-assisted suicide,” & “living wills” are common now.

E. Euthanasia is accepted around the world.

1. Netherlands – 35 + years of experience.

a) Over 1000/yr killed w/o consent.

b) Of 22,500 deaths due to w/d of wife support 63% (14,175) were denied medical treatment w/o consent.

2. China – active Euthanasia practiced on newborn infants less than 4 wks old.

F. It is clear that some Americans are tempted by what on the surface seems to be an acceptable, clinical, high-tech “humane” way of disposing of those deemed to be living an unacceptable quality of life.

I. Definitions.

A. Euthanasia literally means “good death” in the Greek.

1. Beckwith & Geisler: the intentional taking of a human life for some good purpose, such as to relieve suffering & pain.”

2. Euthanasia is divided into two types: active & passive.

B. Active Euthanasia is the intentional killing of a patient by a doctor to help a patient die. Voluntary/involuntary.

1. Euthanasia is NOT Physician Assisted Suicide.

2. Terms are used interchangeably – but different thing.

3. In PAS – doctor provides patient necessary means to commit suicide. (Kevorkian)

C. Passive Euthanasia

1. Medical officials allow nature to take its course w/or w/o patients knowledge.

II. The Bible and Euthanasia

A. Matters of life & death belong to God.

1. John 5:26 – God is the source of life.

a) He has life in himself – He is the source of His own life – its want makes Him God.

b) Hard concept to understand.

2. Gen. 2:7 – God is the giver of life.

a) Life is not an accident of nature.

3. Acts 17:24-25, 28 – God is the preserver of life.

4. Deut. 32:39; 1 Sam. 2:6 – God is the taker of life.

a) No man dies unless God allows it. Job 2:6

b) It is not your life to do with as you please.

B. Ex. 20:13 – God said you shall not kill.

1. We’ve been charged NOT to take innocent life.

a) Teaching applicable for all innocents – including babies!

b) Principle carried over into the NT – Rom. 13:9

2. There are some exceptions for the taking of another life:

a) Ex. 22:2 – self defense.

b) Num 10:9; Rom. 13:1-5 – war

c) Gen. 9:5-6; Rom. 13:4 – capital punishment.

C. 1 Sam. 31; 2 Sam. 1 – the biblical practice as seen in the death of Saul.

1. Consider Saul’s condition – 31:3-4

a) Saul was sure to die…and soon.

b) Saul was in a lot of pain.

c) Saul requested that he be killed.

d) These very arguments used to support Euthanasia.

2. 31:4b – armor bearer’s reaction:

a) Afraid.

b) Refused Kings request.

3. 2 Sam. 1:13-14 – David’s reaction to Amalekite who claimed he killed Saul.

a) 13:14 – David called the Amalekite a murderer.

b) 13:15-16 – had the Amalekite executed.

D. Scripture says there can be value in the trails of life.

1. Suffering not pleasurable. No one enjoys seeing someone suffer.

a) Heartstrings want us to do something to alleviate the suffering.

2. But, it allows us an opportunity to prove our faith.

a) Psa 23:4

b) Lk. 1:38; 2 Cor. 12:9 – problems in life teach us to rely on God for strength and guidance.

c) Job 1:20-21; 2:10 – Job’s example.

3. We can use our trials to glorify God – 2 Cor. 4:16-18

III. Why Euthanasia is wrong.

A. Does not value human life.

1. Life is defined by the union of body & spirit. Js. 2:26

2. But...those who promote Euthanasia seek to change the definition of life.

3. A leading bioethicist commenting on the Terry Schiavo case has said:

a) People who do not have conscious awareness do not have personhood.

b) There are a growing # of people who do not believe there is an obvious link between us & our Creator.

c) We’re no different from a dog/cat/horse/bird/rabbit.

4. If we say someone is not a person – what’s next? Determining who has the right to live/die? Who’s qualified to live? Who’s not?

5. Scripture says that we are to place value on those less fortunate: Lk. 14:13; Psa. 146:8-9

B. No respect for elderly parents.

1. In the Sandwich Islands – natives bury alive their sick elderly.

2. In India aged parents are left to die on the banks of the Ganges River.

3. Honor/respect for parents does not stop when children move out. Eph. 6:1-2

4. 1 Tim. 5:8, 16 – our salvation is contingent upon our care of loved ones.

C. No respect for the rightful placement of death.

1. Heb. 9:27 – death is an appointment we will keep.

2. There is a difference between causing death & allowing death!

a) Not talking about taking off a respirator.

b) Not talking about “do not resuscitate” order.

c) Are taking about Terry Schiavo.

d) About actively pursuing the premature ending of life.

e) About suicide.

D. No compassion/mercy.

1. As in all things – something must fall w/in God’s realm to be compassionate or merciful.

2. Often...what is done to spare a loved one is often done to spare us.

E. No respect for God’s sovereignty.

1. Job 42:2-3 – proponents of Euthanasia do not respect power & supremacy of God.

a) Many do not believe in God.

b) Humans no different from a machine.

2. Isa. 55:8-9 – we must not whittle on God’s end of the stick.

IV. What’s further down the slippery slope – Mt. 7:20

A. When the Euthanasia law passed in OR – advocates claimed it would begin a “domino effect of law reform on assisted dying in America.” Such as:

B. Involuntary Euthanasia. People put to death w/o their consent.

C. Euthanasia for Psychological problems – even in bad cases of depression.

D. Euthanasia for mentally retarded babies – already being done via abortion.

E. Refusal of treatment for terminally ill patients.

F. While we think the holocaust couldn’t possible happen again – like it did in Germany – history can repeat itself. We need to be aware of what is happening in our culture/society!

Conclusion:

A. Active Euthanasia is the unlawful taking of a human being’s life.

B. Won’t you put your trust in God tonight?

C. I N V I T A T I O N



Euthanasia: Compassion or Murder? 2005022 Topic # 0012 Introduction: A. Dr. Leo Alexander was a consultant to the secretary of war in the Nuremburg Trials. 1. Had extraordinary access to Nazi war criminals in medical community. 2. 1949: Dr. Alexander argued that so called “compassionate killing” of the terminally ill inevitable set the stage for the holocaust. 3. he wrote in the NE Journal of Medicine: B. Euthanasia is garnering more attention these days. 1. On 3/18 – country became consumed w/the Terry Schiavo case in FL. a) These events prompted this lesson. 2. There is a growing culture of death in America. a) Euthanasia Society of America – started 1938. b) Hemlock Society c) Exit; Voluntary Euthanasia Legalization Society; society for the right to die, Inc. d) AMA endorses Euthanasia. C. Current Euthanasia is illegal in US. But. 1. Oregon passed law allowing Euthanasia – but currently under review by US Sup Ct. D. Euthanasia is a product of 20^th century medical success. 1. People who would have formerly died – now kept alive by advanced medical treatments. 2. Brought on difficult ethical decisions. 3. Slogans: “right to die;” “the choice not to suffer;” “death with dignity;” “doctor-assisted suicide,” & “living wills” are common now. E. Euthanasia is accepted around the world. 1. Netherlands – 35 + years of experience. a) Over 1000/yr killed w/o consent. b) Of 22,500 deaths due to w/d of wife support 63% (14,175) were denied medical treatment w/o consent. 2. China – active Euthanasia practiced on newborn infants less than 4 wks old. F. It is clear that some Americans are tempted by what on the surface seems to be an acceptable, clinical, high-tech “humane” way of disposing of those deemed to be living an unacceptable quality of life. I. Definitions. A. Euthanasia literally means “good death” in the Greek. 1. Beckwith & Geisler: the intentional taking of a human life for some good purpose, such as to relieve suffering & pain.” 2. Euthanasia is divided into two types: active & passive. B. Active Euthanasia is the intentional killing of a patient by a doctor to help a patient die. Voluntary/involuntary. 1. Euthanasia is NOT Physician Assisted Suicide. 2. Terms are used interchangeably – but different thing. 3. In PAS – doctor provides patient necessary means to commit suicide. (Kevorkian) C. Passive Euthanasia 1. Medical officials allow nature to take its course w/or w/o patients knowledge. II. The Bible and Euthanasia A. Matters of life & death belong to God. 1. John 5:26 – God is the source of life. a) He has life in himself – He is the source of His own life – its want makes Him God. b) Hard concept to understand. 2. Gen. 2:7 – God is the giver of life. a) Life is not an accident of nature. 3. Acts 17:24-25, 28 – God is the preserver of life. 4. Deut. 32:39; 1 Sam. 2:6 – God is the taker of life. a) No man dies unless God allows it. Job 2:6 b) It is not your life to do with as you please. B. Ex. 20:13 – God said you shall not kill. 1. We’ve been charged NOT to take innocent life. a) Teaching applicable for all innocents – including babies! b) Principle carried over into the NT – Rom. 13:9 2. There are some exceptions for the taking of another life: a) Ex. 22:2 – self defense. b) Num 10:9; Rom. 13:1-5 – war c) Gen. 9:5-6; Rom. 13:4 – capital punishment. C. 1 Sam. 31; 2 Sam. 1 – the biblical practice as seen in the death of Saul. 1. Consider Saul’s condition – 31:3-4 a) Saul was sure to die…and soon. b) Saul was in a lot of pain. c) Saul requested that he be killed. d) These very arguments used to support Euthanasia. 2. 31:4b – armor bearer’s reaction: a) Afraid. b) Refused Kings request. 3. 2 Sam. 1:13-14 – David’s reaction to Amalekite who claimed he killed Saul. a) 13:14 – David called the Amalekite a murderer. b) 13:15-16 – had the Amalekite executed. D. Scripture says there can be value in the trails of life. 1. Suffering not pleasurable. No one enjoys seeing someone suffer. a) Heartstrings want us to do something to alleviate the suffering. 2. But, it allows us an opportunity to prove our faith. a) Psa 23:4 b) Lk. 1:38; 2 Cor. 12:9 – problems in life teach us to rely on God for strength and guidance. c) Job 1:20-21; 2:10 – Job’s example. 3. We can use our trials to glorify God – 2 Cor. 4:16-18 III. Why Euthanasia is wrong. A. Does not value human life. 1. Life is defined by the union of body & spirit. Js. 2:26 2. But...those who promote Euthanasia seek to change the definition of life. 3. A leading bioethicist commenting on the Terry Schiavo case has said: a) People who do not have conscious awareness do not have personhood. b) There are a growing # of people who do not believe there is an obvious link between us & our Creator. c) We’re no different from a dog/cat/horse/bird/rabbit. 4. If we say someone is not a person – what’s next? Determining who has the right to live/die? Who’s qualified to live? Who’s not? 5. Scripture says that we are to place value on those less fortunate: Lk. 14:13; Psa. 146:8-9 B. No respect for elderly parents. 1. In the Sandwich Islands – natives bury alive their sick elderly. 2. In India aged parents are left to die on the banks of the Ganges River. 3. Honor/respect for parents does not stop when children move out. Eph. 6:1-2 4. 1 Tim. 5:8, 16 – our salvation is contingent upon our care of loved ones. C. No respect for the rightful placement of death. 1. Heb. 9:27 – death is an appointment we will keep. 2. There is a difference between causing death & allowing death! a) Not talking about taking off a respirator. b) Not talking about “do not resuscitate” order. c) Are taking about Terry Schiavo. d) About actively pursuing the premature ending of life. e) About suicide. D. No compassion/mercy. 1. As in all things – something must fall w/in God’s realm to be compassionate or merciful. 2. Often...what is done to spare a loved one is often done to spare us. E. No respect for God’s sovereignty. 1. Job 42:2-3 – proponents of Euthanasia do not respect power & supremacy of God. a) Many do not believe in God. b) Humans no different from a machine. 2. Isa. 55:8-9 – we must not whittle on God’s end of the stick. IV. What’s further down the slippery slope – Mt. 7:20 A. When the Euthanasia law passed in OR – advocates claimed it would begin a “domino effect of law reform on assisted dying in America.” Such as: B. Involuntary Euthanasia. People put to death w/o their consent. C. Euthanasia for Psychological problems – even in bad cases of depression. D. Euthanasia for mentally retarded babies – already being done via abortion. E. Refusal of treatment for terminally ill patients. F. While we think the holocaust couldn’t possible happen again – like it did in Germany – history can repeat itself. We need to be aware of what is happening in our culture/society! Conclusion: A. Active Euthanasia is the unlawful taking of a human being’s life. B. Won’t you put your trust in God tonight? C. I N V I T A T I O N