Euthanasia/mercy killings

[جوري]

Doctor's duty is to save life but not in a paternalistic manner. Gone are the days when doctors could act as father figures for patients. Today doctors save lives by taking into account the views and beliefs of patient. Patient autonomy is an important principle and a doctor cant let his responsibility of beneficence overtake his responsibility to respect the patients which is done by allowing the capable patient to make decisions for his or herself.

Pt. autonomy doesn't mean helping them out of this world if that is their wish, further if your own personal beliefs conflict with those of the patient, then you may transfer them to the care of another doctor..
Yes you can't force treatment on patients if they don't want it.. but you can't comply with the patients wishes to play God.. surely you've seen what happened to Dr. Kevorkian?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Kevorkian

currently only Oregon allows Euthanasia.. I pity them really!

all the best

 

[Muslim Woman]

..you may transfer them to the care of another doctor..
you can't comply with the patients wishes to play God..

yes , good points.


Certainly no one despairs of Allahs Mercy, except the people who disbelieve."
( سورة يوسف , Yusuf, Chapter #12, Verse #87)


Allah burdens not a person beyond his scope.


2:286

 

[CosmicPathos]

Pt. autonomy doesn't mean helping them out of this world if that is their wish, further if your own personal beliefs conflict with those of the patient, then you may transfer them to the care of another doctor..
Yes you can't force treatment on patients if they don't want it.. but you can't comply with the patients wishes to play God.. surely you've seen what happened to Dr. Kevorkian?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Kevorkian

currently only Oregon allows Euthanasia.. I pity them really!

all the best

Of course you cant give in to all desires of patients. If a patient asks for a diagnostic test or treatment which in most probability will not benefit the patient, based on compelling evidence, a doctor is not supposed to give that treatment.

I am currently against euthanasia because of my Islamic beliefs. I have not seen the misery and suffering of anyone close to me (allhamdulillah) and maybe that is why I am against it. But I do hope that I do not get to see such misery and do hope that my views not evolve into those which are accepting of euthanasia. Experience makes us change many cherished beliefs.

Letting the disease take its natural course by removing artificial life-prolonging treatment is altogether a separate issue.

 

[Life_Is_Short]

Should Doctors play a role in assisting a patient's death?

The simple and lawful answer to this question is no. It is true that doctors should take into account pateint's treatment and pain relief, but helping them die would be a betrayal of trust.

 

[CosmicPathos]

Should Doctors play a role in assisting a patient's death?

The simple and lawful answer to this question is no. It is true that doctors should take into account pateint's treatment and pain relief, but helping them die would be a betrayal of trust.

How would it be a betrayal of trust if the capable patient his herself is willing to take that step?

 

[Karina]

As I do not subscribe to any particular religion, I, at this moment in time, am a supporter of Euthanasia; although I fully respect and understand the reasons why Muslims, for example, would be opposed to the matter.

I do firmly believe in my right to die, and at some point will be making a living will which will instruct doctors of my specific wishes should I ever be in the position that I cannot communicate that decision in person.

I don't ever want to experience a slow and painful death, one that reduces my existance to a miserable undignified nothingnesss. One which will no doubt burden my nearest and dearest and one that will surely be terrifying and agonising.

What we DO overlook is the fact that without our very own modern medicine and methods, many people would not be in this awful position in the first place..... To put it simply, they would have died a long time ago. So maybe the needless lengthening of the suffering is our fault in the first place? If you look at it like this, then the lines are even more blurred.

What about the profiting pharmaceutical companies :raging: who would love nothing more than to see a nice long treatement programme that will never cure, just prolong the suffering. Did God really want this? :?

All I know is that I love my life dearly, but I was to be reduced to an empty shell of a body, reliant on others to feed, wash and toilet me, in excruciating pain and bringing distress to my loved ones - I know what my choice would be.

 

[CosmicPathos]

As I do not subscribe to any particular religion, I, at this moment in time, am a supporter of Euthanasia; although I fully respect and understand the reasons why Muslims, for example, would be opposed to the matter.

I do firmly believe in my right to die, and at some point will be making a living will which will instruct doctors of my specific wishes should I ever be in the position that I cannot communicate that decision in person.

I don't ever want to experience a slow and painful death, one that reduces my existance to a miserable undignified nothingnesss. One which will no doubt burden my nearest and dearest and one that will surely be terrifying and agonising.

What we DO overlook is the fact that without our very own modern medicine and methods, many people would not be in this awful position in the first place..... To put it simply, they would have died a long time ago. So maybe the needless lengthening of the suffering is our fault in the first place? If you look at it like this, then the lines are even more blurred.

What about the profiting pharmaceutical companies :raging: who would love nothing more than to see a nice long treatement programme that will never cure, just prolong the suffering. Did God really want this? :?

All I know is that I love my life dearly, but I was to be reduced to an empty shell of a body, reliant on others to feed, wash and toilet me, in excruciating pain and bringing distress to my loved ones - I know what my choice would be.

The bolded part refers to life-prolonging treatment. Following what you said would then let the disease take its natural course, and hence is not euthanasia.

Euthanasia is active or passive participation of the doctor to help the patient die, who otherwise would not if left on the diseases' natural course, at least not in foreseeable future. So, for example killing a person who MS of neurons controlling skeletal muscle.

Regarding the second bolded part, since it has happened then yes, God willed it. Whether He loves it or not, I cannot answer that. He let things happen which He hates. We like to think of God in positive terms. Like He is the Creator. But He is also the Destroyer. At least the Islamic God.

 

[Karina]

since it has happened then yes, God willed it. Whether He loves it or not, I cannot answer that. He let things happen which He hates. We like to think of God in positive terms. Like He is the Creator. But He is also the Destroyer. At least the Islamic God.

If Allah can will for humans to intervene and prolong life, can He not will for humans to intervene and end suffering?

 

[aamirsaab]

I voted no.

I have no right to end someone else's life. Even if I did, I don't have the mental capacity to endure that action: it would play on my mind for the rest of my life. I've only killed two things in my life: a joke and a coke and that's how it's going to stay.

So no, I don't support euthanasia. But, I understand that it's not an easy situation to be in. Actually, it's a terrible situation to be in and I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. I don't look down on anyone who supports it, however. I'll leave the judging to Allah. But I do not support it because of my reasons above and on religious grounds.

God willing we will never have to experience it.

 

[Life_Is_Short]

How would it be a betrayal of trust if the capable patient his herself is willing to take that step?

When they are imcompetent to make such a request. The doctor-patient relationship is built on trust. If doctors were seen as a group to be participating in 'premature' patient deaths that trust would be eroded.

 

[Woodrow]

If Allah can will for humans to intervene and prolong life, can He not will for humans to intervene and end suffering?

Except death does not necessarily end suffering. It can very well be the start of eternal, unstoppable suffering much grater than can be imagined in human terms. To assist a person to end their own life is no different than casting them into eternal flames.

 

[Karina]

Except death does not necessarily end suffering. It can very well be the start of eternal, unstoppable suffering much grater than can be imagined in human terms. To assist a person to end their own life is no different than casting them into eternal flames.

Agreed - from a Muslim point of view of course. And only if the person qualifies for the hellfire and not for Jannah, right?

What I am saying is, if a doctor can prolong a the life of (for example) a patient in a vegetative state, this is not seen as being sinful or wrong is it? (Or is it?)
Surely this can be viewed as meddling with God's plan for that person.... just as compassionatley and consentfully assisting a person to die is considered by some to be meddling with 'destiny' and the wishes of the Allmighty so to speak.

Woodrow - I'm confused! :hmm:

 

[Woodrow]

Agreed - from a Muslim point of view of course. And only if the person qualifies for the hellfire and not for Jannah, right?

What I am saying is, if a doctor can prolong a the life of (for example) a patient in a vegetative state, this is not seen as being sinful or wrong is it? (Or is it?)
Surely this can be viewed as meddling with God's plan for that person.... just as compassionatley and consentfully assisting a person to die is considered by some to be meddling with 'destiny' and the wishes of the Allmighty so to speak.

Woodrow - I'm confused! :hmm:

The confusion is understandable.

I personally believe the use of extraordinary means to prolong life can be just as wrong as euthanasia. I know others will disagree with me, but I see keeping a "dead" person in a vegetative state is simply maintaining a cell culture to give false hope to family and friends and is just as immoral as euthanasia.

 

[Mohamed_Sadiq]

I don't know about your religion but my religion does not allow mercy killing or assisted suicide!:shade:

 

[Skavau]

Except death does not necessarily end suffering. It can very well be the start of eternal, unstoppable suffering much grater than can be imagined in human terms. To assist a person to end their own life is no different than casting them into eternal flames.

This of course, as someone else has already pointed out: is only true if Islam is deemed true. A patient who is suffering in life (unesolvably so) and who wishes to end that suffering has no reason to accept this perspective of the potential of the 'afterlife'.

 

[CosmicPathos]

When they are imcompetent to make such a request. The doctor-patient relationship is built on trust. If doctors were seen as a group to be participating in 'premature' patient deaths that trust would be eroded.

Incapacity is a different issue. We are talking about those who are capable to make their own decisions. True, a doctor cannot be forced to do euthanasia on someone if he does not believe in its correctness but he also cannot take that right away from the patient. Regarding making it legal or illegal, ill let that to the ulama to decide. I personally think that from patient's perspective euthanasia is akin to suicide. If euthanasia is to be allowed, suicide should be allowed to but I doubt any legal system will allow that leeway and decriminalize suicide, in the Western world. Canada considers suicide or aiding and abating someone to commit suicide as a crime.

@ karina: regarding humans intervening to end life, there are divine injunctions to not "help" someone die and on personal level to not kill oneself. In that regards, smoking is also suicidal once the inevitability of its risks have been manifested to the smoker. Surely, many ppl are able to commit suicide, it means God is allowing suicide to happen, does not mean He approves of it.

@ Woodrow: regarding vegetative state, I think scholars have allowed to let go of life-prolonging treatment once it is certain that the person is brain dead. Confusing part is that the "heart" is still alive. So when Quran mention "hearts are sealed," is it referring to the brain or to the cardiac muscle.

 

[Life_Is_Short]

Incapacity is a different issue. We are talking about those who are capable to make their own decisions. True, a doctor cannot be forced to do euthanasia on someone if he does not believe in its correctness but he also cannot take that right away from the patient. Regarding making it legal or illegal, ill let that to the ulama to decide. I personally think that from patient's perspective euthanasia is akin to suicide. If euthanasia is to be allowed, suicide should be allowed to but I doubt any legal system will allow that leeway and decriminalize suicide, in the Western world. Canada considers suicide or aiding and abating someone to commit suicide as a crime.

Pardon my ignorance, but i was talking about those that are incompetent to make such a request. If the law is removed who would make decisions for such people. For-example, If a doctor told you your mother's "quality of life" was not worth living for and asked you, as the closest family member, to approve a "quick, painless ending of her life" and you refused how would doctors, nurses and others, conditioned to accept euthanasia as normal and right, treat you and your mother.

There was an interesting article in the journal 'Pulse' about how a GP who is dying from cancer made an impassioned plea for a rethink on assisted suicid.She worked as a GP for 30 years, and was shortlisted for a lifetime achievement award by the BMJ earlier this year for her medical work and was aiming to make her final achievement to change the views of the medical profession on assisted dying and drive the debate on a change in the law – even though she knows she won’t see the conclusion.

 

[believeByHEART.]

Peace Boaz,

I see the paradox in that the scum of the earth are released from their earthly pains through execution for their crimes and the pious who have done no wrong have to suffer for years during the course of a painful terminal disease, injury, or genetic fault.

It does not seem fair and it seems it would be more fitting that criminals should be forced to live to an old age without being relieved of the burdens of life.

I can only speak for myself. I do not consider myself a stoic person, but I am a person who has lived a considerable time with chronic excruciating pain as a very close companion. To be honest I do desire the relief of the grave, but I would never request euthanasia nor seek suicide. I see death as being a reward I am not yet worthy of and my purpose here not yet ended. I stopped taking all pain killers and sedatives a few years back and now see my pain as a gift and one of my reasons for living. This pain has given me the incentive to continue forward in a direction I would have feared to travel. I see it as a gift as I know that no human or physical event can bring me any more pain then I now face daily. I live a life completely free of fear, thanks to pain.

So my opinion is euthanasia/mercy killings are not an option permitted to us humans. It is murder and deprives the person of discovering the gift they have been given.

that post actually has inspired me to look at pain in a very different perspective. you speak of such wise truthful words woodrow, feel proud! you have today changed a persons outlook