I would struggle with any decision I had to make about a family member regarding this. For myself, I prefer as little medical intervention as possible, but if there is a situation where I need intervention and there is good probability of prolonged quality of life, then by all means, intervene.
For many people, there is a huge difference between intervening in the life of a young person and allowing nature to take it's course in an elderly person. My grandfather was injured in his 80s. He continued to have quality of life. However, there came a point in his 90s where he was on a number of medications, began having other medical issues, and was finally put into a nursing home. The last time I saw him, the tall, square shouldered, hard working man I'd always known as Grandpa was curled in a fetal position, too weak to get out of bed, and was begging the nurse to leave him alone. A DNR was the most loving option, for him and for the entire family. No one pulled any meds or tubes, but no further meds were prescribed and no feeding tubes were allowed, either.
Is that euthenasia? I don't think so. Modern science is capable of a lot of things. But sometimes mercy is a better option than medicine.
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What we make of the Bible will never be as great a thing as what the Bible will - if we let it - make of us.~Rich Mullins
I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect has intended us to forgo their use.~Galileo Galilei
There are no easy answers, and it should be a difficult decision. At least, a lot of care and thought should go into it, and the primary concern should be for the welfare of the patient.
I don't favor outright killing someone, but am in favor of withholding medical treatment that would only prolong the inevitable for someone. I would even go so far as to say it might not be wrong to give someone pain medication that could depress respirations if it was necessary to provide enough pain relief.
Okay, but consider this: let's say a young boy is brought into the emergency room because he passed out. Through examination, you discover that he is extremely dehydrated. Would you refuse to give him the IV?
Nope, if it's ordered I would give it.
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Today pull up the little weeds,
The sinful thoughts subdue,
Or they will take the reins themselves
And someday master you. --Anon.
The most deadly sins do not leap upon us, they creep up on us.
In case you were wondering, euthanasia comes from the Greek word ευθανασία, which literally means "good death". It refers to the practice of ending a life in a manner which relieves pain and suffering. Is it Biblical? A couple of verses come to mind.
Job 2:8-10 (Today's New International Version)
8 Then Job took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes.
9 His wife said to him, "Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!"
10 He replied, "You are talking like a foolish [a] woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?"
If ever there was a man that wanted to die, it was Job. He was miserable, but he refused to end his life.
The story of Saul's death comes to mind as well.
1 Samuel 31:4-5 (New King James Version)
4 Then Saul said to his armorbearer, “Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised men come and thrust me through and abuse me.”
But his armorbearer would not, for he was greatly afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword and fell on it. 5 And when his armorbearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell on his sword, and died with him.
His armorbearer refused to kill him, even though Saul was in a miserable condition.
Dr. Kevorkian practiced euthanasia, but he was also considered to be a serial killer. So what do you think? Is it right or wrong?
I am reminded of the Terri Schiavo case. If her husband had his way, Terri would have died a peaceful death a long time ago. Instead, her parents got in the way and prolonged her life. When she was finally allowed to die, she was rehabbed to a point where the only way she could die was for someone to starve her to death!
Were her parents out of the will of God or in the will of God?
People euthanize stray cats, rabid dogs and horses with broken legs.
I do not agree with purposely putting down a human being, even if they ask for it.
I do agree with nature taking its course.
I do agree with allowing space and time for God to do the impossible!
I don't agree with what happened in the Terri Schiavo case.
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"The choices we make reveal the true nature of our character."
Last edited by Jermyn Davidson; 05-28-2010 at 07:42 PM.
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