The emergence of the euthanasia practice is a topic that has elicited a sharp debate in the global world. The practice presents itself when physician terminates the life of the patient with the sole reason of reducing suffering. During the mentioned condition, the patient may request the termination of his/her life in order to reduce the suffering. The Catholic, human activists, and other concern authors have raised their strong opinion on the mentioned practice. Catholic Church spoke strongly through Sacred Congregation for the doctrine of faith. The declaration strong implores the Christians and non-Christians to fully distance themselves from the mentioned act. Similarly, Grisez and Boyle strongly oppose the legalization of euthanasia. The two authors affirm that both active and passive euthanasia are wrong and against the moral ethics. The two authors further argue that euthanasia is killing in the strict sense. The mentioned authors strongly believe that legalization of voluntary euthanasia will eventually lead to legalization of non-voluntary euthanasia. The article written by Pereira clearly espouses the concerns raised by both Catholic denomination and Grisez and Boyle. The article asserts that laws and regulations are epochal in the provision of guidance in the mentioned practice. The paper seeks to compare the position of sacred Congregation, Grisez and Boyle with the Pereira article that opposes the legalization of euthanasia.
Catholic teachings are total against human act that intend to take away the life of any human being. The Jesus teaching on love implores all Christians to love one another the way they love themselves (Paterson 17). In view of the mentioned virtues, no Christian can permit the death of the one they love. Secondly, Catholic Church values and honors its core principles on ethics. The said principle includes sanctity to human life that urges the Christians to be fully aware their life is sacred and must be respected and valued (Tulloch 51). Secondly, the dignity of human person principle, seeks to remind the Christians to be righteous in all their actions. Thirdly, the respect of human right principle further cautions the Christians to be aware that each one has the right to live.
The primary reason of the Catholic principles is to admonish Christians not to involve in any practice that intends to disrespect someone life. Also, the core principle intends to advise Christians that God Created human being with a purpose and it is only the Almighty who can terminate the life of a human being (Biggs 12). The Sacred Congregation bases its argument on the Catholic core principles together with Jesus teaching to reprimand the Church on euthanasia practice. The said document clearly elaborates that pain and suffering makes us close to God, and termination of life is not the right option. Catholic teaching classifies euthanasia practice as an act of murder, therefore, a serious crime before God. Catholic medical ethics insists that the human death should continue without medical interventions (Burleigh 232).
Grisez and Boyle have joined the Catholic Church in opposing the discussed practice. The said authors assert that euthanasia practice whether active or passive is a wrongful act. The two termed the euthanasia an immoral act (Cavan 19). The authors insist that for an act to take place the patient in question must be aware of the incoming consequences. Secondly, when the patients who are moral succumb to the idea of euthanasia, then their conscious will not be at peace (Miller et al 129). Thirdly, the patients who decline the practice will conclude that there is no hope of survival since the physician has already given up. Fourthly, there are cases where there is a recommendation for euthanasia, but the patient later recovers (Pereira 41). The two authors insisted that the consent of patients before voluntary euthanasia is a must. In view of the mentioned reasons; Grisez and Boyle warn the legalization of the euthanasia practice (Bachman et al 307). The two authors insist that if the nation legalize the practice the provision of regulations is essential.
The article written by Pereira recognizes the existence of euthanasia but argue that the rules and regulations must surround the practice. Pereira on his article insists that the euthanasia without laws and regulation will lead to transgression of the law (Manning 8). The law and control are vital for euthanasia practice, as such will prevent the misuse of the mentioned practice. According to the author, explicit consent of the patient is imperative before the practice takes place. Secondly, it is a mandatory that all the physicians to report all the cases of active voluntary euthanasia. Thirdly, the mentioned act requires a physician and not any quack doctor to carry out the task. Furthermore, the physician in charge must seek a consultation from a second physician before the practice takes place (Wilson 2458). Pereira observes that if the laws and regulations are put in place then both the patients and physicians will not misuse the discussed practice.
Works cited
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Biggs, Hazel. Death with Dignity and the Law. North America: Hart Publishing. 2001. Print
Burleigh, Michael. Death and Deliverance: “euthanasia” in German C. 1900-1945. USA: Cambridge University Press, 1994. Print
Cavan, Seamus. Euthanasia: The Debate over the Right to Die. New York: The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc. 2000, Print
Manning, Michael. Euthanasia and Physician- Assisted Suicide: Killing or Caring. New Jersey: Paulist Press, 1998. Print
Miller, Robert J. “Hospice Care as an Alternative to Euthanasia”. The Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics 20.1-2(1992): 127-132.
Paterson, Craig. Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia: A Natural Law Ethics Approach. England: Ashgate Publishing Limited Limited, 2008. Print
Pereira, J. “Legalizing Euthanasia or Assisted Suicide: The Illusion of Safeguards and Controls.” Current Oncology 18.2(2011): 38-45.
Tulloch, Gail. Euthanasia, Choice and Death. Great Britain: Edinburg University Press Ltd, 2005. Print.
Wilson, Keith G et al. “Attitudes of Terminally Ill Patients towards Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Suicide.” Jama Internal Medicine 160.16(2000):2454-2460.
