Choosing Physician-Assisted Death

[Aeternitas]

Choosing Physician-Assisted Death

The decision to let go is not easy

Around seven million Germans have written a living will. Renate and Johanna are among those who have tackled the difficult subject.

When American Terry Schiavo died in March after years in a permanent vegetative state and a fierce legal controversy, the question of living wills entered many people minds. But the process of producing one is not easy.

Source

[Phlegethon]

Euthanasia

2276 Those whose lives are diminished or weakened deserve special respect. Sick or handicapped persons should be helped to lead lives as normal as possible.

2277 Whatever its motives and means, direct euthanasia consists in putting an end to the lives of handicapped, sick, or dying persons. It is morally unacceptable.

Thus an act or omission which, of itself or by intention, causes death in order to eliminate suffering constitutes a murder gravely contrary to the dignity of the human person and to the respect due to the living God, his Creator. The error of judgment into which one can fall in good faith does not change the nature of this murderous act, which must always be forbidden and excluded.

2278 Discontinuing medical procedures that are burdensome, dangerous, extraordinary, or disproportionate to the expected outcome can be legitimate; it is the refusal of "over-zealous" treatment. Here one does not will to cause death; one's inability to impede it is merely accepted. The decisions should be made by the patient if he is competent and able or, if not, by those legally entitled to act for the patient, whose reasonable will and legitimate interests must always be respected.

2279 Even if death is thought imminent, the ordinary care owed to a sick person cannot be legitimately interrupted. The use of painkillers to alleviate the sufferings of the dying, even at the risk of shortening their days, can be morally in conformity with human dignity if death is not willed as either an end or a means, but only foreseen and tolerated as inevitable Palliative care is a special form of disinterested charity. As such it should be encouraged.

[Aeternitas]

Assisted suicide requires a caring and helping hand

In a move which has caused considerable consternation among politicians and the church, the Swiss organization for assisted suicide, Dignitas, has founded a subsidiary in Germany.

The numbers, though not particularly high, are noteworthy.

http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,...724358,00.html

Interesting name they picked.

[Aeternitas]

German Assisted Suicide Debate Heats Up

Like Americans, Germans seem split on the matter

Germany's debate about assisted suicide has flared up after a state minister said he would back legalization. Church officials meanwhile called for a ban of a Swiss group that wants to help terminally ill Germans to die.

http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,...738905,00.html