EUTHANASIA

(MERCY-KILLING)
 Euthanasia
the act or practice of killing or permitting the death of hopelessly sick
or injured individuals (such as persons or domestic animals) in a
relatively painless way for reasons of mercy.
The word comes from the Greek euthanatos, which means “easy
death.” In English, euthanasia has been used in exactly this sense
since the early seventeenth century, when Francis Bacon described
the phenomenon as “after the fashion and semblance of a kindly &
pleasant sleepe.” Nowadays, the word usually refers to the means of
attaining such a death.
The idea that death should be merciful is not new. When a person is gravely
wounded or terminally ill, when death is inevitable, and the suffering is so great
that living no longer brings any joy to the person, it is understandable that he or she
may wish to die.
As time and technology progressed, everyday people came to see physicians as
godlike figures, and, Lopes writes, doctors claimed a role in the process of dying.
Through the early 20th century, opiates were still widely available, but physicians
had begun to take control of prescribing and administering other medications.
In 1957, the Vatican proclaimed that passive euthanasia was acceptable, according
to Thomas R. Cole’s review of A Merciful End. Passive euthanasia is the deliberate
decision to withhold lifesaving measures, like a ventilator, knowing that death will
result. Hoping to take advantage of the change in public opinion after the Pope’s
declaration, assisted-suicide advocates pivoted to focus on legalizing passive
euthanasia.
Direct euthanasia is action taken for the purpose of hastening death.
These measures may include lethal injection by a physician, or any one
of a number of more clumsy methods undertaken by amateurs such as
poisoning and suffocation.
Passive euthanasia is action withheld for the purpose of hastening
death. These measures would include the withholding or withdrawal of
non-heroic measures, to include food, hydration, and oxygenation. One
exception is noted below.
Natural death means to allow a person to die in comfort and peace by
withholding aggressive treatment that would only cause pain and
lengthen the person's lifespan by a very modest or insignificant
amount.
 Euthanasia (Right or Wrong)?
Christians have no authority to commit suicide in any circumstance.
It is significant that in the sacred canonical books there can nowhere
be found any injunction or permission to commit suicide either to
ensure immortality or to avoid or escape any evil. In fact, we must
understand it to be forbidden by the law "You shall not kill" (Exodus
20:13), particularly as there is no addition of "your neighbor" as in
the prohibition of false witness, "You shall not bear false witness
against your neighbor" (Exodus 20:16).
 We should not go ahead with what God is planning for
our lives. Maybe with some critical issues like life and
death cases in medical and also not only with humans but
also with animals. Let the plan and will of God be done
and even though it may be legal in other countries but
Euthanasia is still a form of killing.