Euthanasia and suicide? any difference?

[StarSong]

Hiya everyone!

I'm a 17 year old student from the uk, and I'm studying for a religious studies a-level. my coursework question is

What are the moral and religious differences, if any, between Euthanasia and Suicide?

Why may these distinctions be important?

I want to get as many poeple's opinions as possible to use in my work. I've read some of the topics on here and people seem to ahve really developed views. i would be so grateful for your opinions!

please help me!

StarSong

[Guest eureka]

You could try reading David Humes' essay on suicide. It will tell you more than we can. Written also from a perspective of a couple of centuries ago. Extend from that to an irreligious age as is the present.

[PocketRocket]

Hiya everyone!

Well, hello to you.

I'm a 17 year old student from the uk, and I'm studying for a religious studies a-level.

Well, "Welcome to Canada, eh".

my coursework question is

What are the moral and religious differences, if any, between Euthanasia and Suicide?

Why may these distinctions be important?

Well, for one thing suicide cannot possibly be called murder, whereas euthenasia can.

This is not, however, a moral or religious difference.

I cannot help you with morals here, at least not until I have another coffee under my belt.

I want to get as many poeple's opinions as possible to use in my work. I've read some of the topics on here and people seem to ahve really developed views. i would be so grateful for your opinions!

Hmm. A very polite young person. That's so wonderful to see in this day and age.

please help me!

But, but, but I still need more coffee

StarSong

Cool nickname.

Okay, more seriously, let's take a whack at your question.

Euthenasia is another word for "mercy killing". It is typically practised with pets who are either old and ill, or injured beyond hope of recovery.

In the case of humans, it is used quite rarely, and most often with people who are in deep coma, and again, when there is no hope of recovery.

Recently, there was a case in Florida, a young lady name Terri Schiavo (spelling???).

You may want to do a Google search on that case. It may give you some of the answers you are seeking.

Suicide, on the other hand, is when someone takes their own life.

Whether this is done out of a sense of duty, as was fairly common in feudal Japan, or out of some sense of desparation, it still comes down to being a personal decision which affects others in only a periferal manner.

You may be familiar with a novel entitled "Death of a Salesman". If not, find a synopsis somewhere. It too may help you out a bit with the suicide angle.

One gray area would be assisted suicide.

Some see this as a form of euthenasia.

If someone is in such bad shape that they want to cash in their chips, and simply need someone to supply them with the means to do so, then the person who is supplying the pills/gun/knife/whatever (which will be used by the suicidee to take his own life) is considered to be "assisting" in the suicide.

In some areas, this is considered a crime, almost on a par with euthenasia, also considered by many to be a criminal act.

The question of morality I leave to you, as I this this to be a personal judgement call.

[newbie]

I think a type of euthenasia is used more than we think for terminally ill people. Both my parents were "o.d." to make their last few days/moments more comforable. We knew the excessive pain medicine would kill them, but they were in a state where there was no recovery and little brain function. This is perfectly acceptable and comes under the heading of "comfort level" on the health board's medical directive sheets.

[StarSong]

StarSong

Cool nickname.

Thanks! And thank you to everyone who's replied, i can use just about everything you're all saying in my coursework!

The question of morality I leave to you, as I this this to be a personal judgement call.

yes, it is a personal call. But sadly if i only put my own opinion in the examiners will crush me from a great height and write all over my work in nasty red pen. Which is why i value what everyone is saying so much.

some other questions I'd like to ask just to get some responses are.

is euthanasia more acceptable than suicide in terms of pain left for those behind? (or vice versa)

can you compare euthanising animals to people?

should doctors prepare themselves to have to acquiesce to the requests of those wishing to die even if they do not agree morally? or should they be able to pass responsobilty?

and your religious views as well please!

thanks so much

StarSong

[StarSong]

sorry, never quite got the hang of the quoting thing...

[geoffrey]

Suicide generally implies that the person chose to end their life.

Whereas euthanasia doesn't always clearly have the consent. Even in cases when someone says they want to die, do they really? How can we be clear when someone is loaded up on painkillers?

It's risky to allow people to euthanise people, just based on the legal issues.

On morality, both are equally wrong IMO, because killing yourself is always in our own worst interest, no difference if you pull the trigger or get someone else to.

[Melanie_]

As a college instructor, I have to say that I would write in red ink (actually I use purple) all over any paper that used an internet forum as a reference. Its a good idea to do some research that you will be able to use as a reliable source, rather than seeking intuitive opinions. Not that I don't respect the opinions expressed here.....

[theloniusfleabag]

Dear Melanie,

Well done.

Its a good idea to do some research that you will be able to use as a reliable source, rather than seeking intuitive opinions. Not that I don't respect the opinions expressed here.....

I agree with your approach, and it is supposed to be the policy here that what you post is your own opinion and not a cut&pasted, addle-pated version lifted from others. I must admit, though, that I thought this and many other similar topics (with a highly dubious premise) to be purely 'troll-bait', laid out by one prolific troll.

[betsy]

Suicide generally implies that the person chose to end their life.

Whereas euthanasia doesn't always clearly have the consent. Even in cases when someone says they want to die, do they really? How can we be clear when someone is loaded up on painkillers?

It's risky to allow people to euthanise people, just based on the legal issues.

On morality, both are equally wrong IMO, because killing yourself is always in our own worst interest, no difference if you pull the trigger or get someone else to.

Yes I definitely agree.

And this put the vulnerable and the helpless at risk of being intentionally murdered. Though I do sympathize with people who carry the burden to care for those with overwhelming disabilities....how do you

distinguish if "euthinicia" was done to ease the suffering not of the one who is ill or disabled....but of the one who is doing the caring?

Just think of the lurking fear of getting snuffed in people with disabilities...and the infirmed old people....

Once we open that gate....anything can easily follow.

[StarSong]

As a college instructor, I have to say that I would write in red ink (actually I use purple) all over any paper that used an internet forum as a reference. Its a good idea to do some research that you will be able to use as a reliable source, rather than seeking intuitive opinions. Not that I don't respect the opinions expressed here.....

Hi Melanie.

Thank you for your concern. I can assure you I have used plenty of research from reliable sources, have interviewd a member of parliament for the specific laws in my country, used religious books, philosophy magazines etc.

However, I also want the opinion of 'the general public,' as it were, and I also wanted a more international view. I have informed my Religious Studies teacher of what means I'm using to get my quotes and she was perfectly happy. I do not use what people say ehre as fact, but quote an opinion and then evaluate it. Whilst I have asked many people in my area and age, not all of them have such developed opinions as those who regularly write on a political forum.

I wish check again with my RS teacher, because I respect your opinion it may not be such a good idea. Thank you

StarSong

ps, purple pen is a good idea. Nothing is more demoralising than red pen

[Guest eureka]

Todays' Toronto Star has a column on just this topic. I haven't read it so I cannot tell much about it. It is by Rosie di Manno.

[August1991]

One of the clear differences between euthanasia (or mercy killing) and suicide is the issue of "interests".

When someone takes their own life, it can be assumed that they are thinking primarily about themselves. That is not the case with mercy killing. Euthanasia involves someone else and while we would like to believe that the someone else acts in the interest of the person who will die, that is far from obvious.

A child who stands to inherit a large sum of money if a parent dies is an obvious example. (And I'm not convinced a judge or a court-order would be an adequate safeguard.)

Here's a suggestion. In your will, leave your millions to a niece giving her the power to decide whether to pull the plug. But if she does, she forfeits the inheritance.