The month of November is dedicated to remember and pray for our beloved deceased, especially on All Souls Day, back on November 2nd. We know that all human life has dignity, is sacred, and is to be respected from the moment of conception until the moment of natural death. But certain acts end the natural process of life prematurely. As mentioned in a previous article, one particular act that cuts life short at the moment of conception until birth is abortion. If we go to the other end of the spectrum, the end of life, there is a sad but growing trend in our world of ending life intentionally, usually in the elder years, through euthanasia and assisted suicide. While these two terms can be masked as “dying with dignity,” they really are a form of murder as you will later discover.
First, what is the difference between the two? “The key difference between euthanasia and assisted suicide is who administers the lethal dose of medication: Euthanasia entails the physician or another third party administering the medication, whereas assisted suicide requires the patient to self-administer the medication and to determine whether and when to do this” (Wikipedia). Also physician-assisted suicide (PAS) is defined as “a doctor helps the patient to take his or her own life” (CatholicCulture.org).
Where is euthanasia legal? It is legal in Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and in Canada (Wikipedia). According to LifeNews.com, from June of 2016 to December of 2016, “over 744 people have been euthanized in Canada.” Is euthanasia illegal in the U.S.? While euthanasia is illegal in most of the United States, according to CNN, “Physician-assisted suicide is legal in five US states (plus Colorado and the District of Columbia). It is an option given to individuals by state law in Oregon, Vermont, Washington and California. It is an option given to individuals in Montana via court decision. Individuals must have a terminal illness as well as a prognosis of six months or less to live. Physicians cannot be prosecuted for prescribing medications to hasten death.”
Though not a recent invention, euthanasia was a reality in Nazi Germany during World War II. For example, the “’euthanasia campaign’ of mass murder gathered momentum on 14 January 1940 when the ‘handicapped’ were killed with gas vans and killing centers, eventually leading to the deaths of 70,000 adult Germans” (Wikipedia). Also, “between 1939 and 1945, German doctors killed more than 200,000 disabled people, including infants and the mentally retarded people” (encylopedia.com).
Before I share what our Catholic faith teaches us, here are some statistics: The total percentage of medical practitioners that support Euthanasia is 54%. The percent of the public who support euthanasia for the terminally ill/on life-support is 86%. 1,001 American’s were asked in a poll, “Generally speaking, do you support or oppose legalizing euthanasia in the U.S.?” 42% of people supported euthanasia, while only 37% opposed it. (Sources: Gallup Poll, Sudpresse Belgium, National Health Services, statisticbrain.com, 10-22-16). According to Health Research Funding, 92% of people who are living off of a pension stated that doctors should be able to provide the means for voluntary euthanasia to occur if terminally ill patients wish to die.
You may recall how a local man from suburban Detroit faced charges from physician-assisted suicide and received nation-wide attention in the not-so-distant past. Who was it? Dr. Jack Kevorkian, commonly referred to as “Dr. Death,” who admitted he helped 130 people die through euthanasia/physician-assisted suicide from 1990-1998. Kevorkian, defended by locally, well-known attorney, Geoffrey Fieger, was found not guilty by three juries between 1994-1997. But in 1999, Kevorkian was arrested and tried for his direct role in a case of voluntary euthanasia. He was convicted of second-degree murder and served eight years of a 10-to-25-year prison sentence and was released on parole in June of 2007. Kevorkian later died in 2011 at the age of 83 (Sources: Wikipedia and Euthanasia ProCon).
As people who have faith in the mercy of Jesus Christ, we are instructed to pray for the deceased including the conversion and repose of the souls of Dr. Kevorkian and the 130 people he helped to die. The following Catechism passages (#s 2276-2279, 2324) teach us more about this life and death issue:
“Those whose lives are diminished or weakened deserve special respect. Sick or handicapped persons should be helped to lead lives as normal as possible (2276).
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 (2277).
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 (2278).
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 (2279).
Intentional euthanasia, whatever its forms or motives, is murder. It is gravely contrary to the dignity of the human person and to the respect due to the living God, his Creator” (2324).
Sadly, euthanasia has already become legal in some states. We pray that euthanasia and any form of assisted suicide does not eventually become law in the state of Michigan or any other state or country. We also encourage awareness through education. May those who are suffering and dying turn to Jesus and his cross for hope, strength, and perseverance rather than to euthanasia and assisted suicide, and may we be pro-life at the beginning of life as well as at the end of it too.
In Jesus Christ, Our Resurrection and Life, +
Fr. Jeff
Recommendation:
Doerflinger, Richard M. and Carlos F. Gomez, M.D., Ph.D; “Killing The Pain Not The Patient: Palliative Care Vs Assisted Suicide,”. http://www.usccb.org/about/pro-life-activities/respect-life-program/killing-the-pain.cfm
Other Statistics:
* 64% of Americans believe that a doctor should be allowed to end the life of a patient who has a painful and terminal disease if that patient wishes to die.
Source: https://healthresearchfunding.org/19-great-voluntary-euthanasia-statistics/
* When someone has an incurable disease, should doctors be allowed by law to end the patient’s life painlessly if the patient and their family request it? 70% answered “Yes.” (2013).
Source: https://www.statista.com/statistics/260668/legalization-of-euthanasia-on-the-patients-request/
"Speak The Truth with Love," A Catholic Blog by Fr. Jeff Allan 
Fr. Jeff,
Miss you dearly, you are an amazing inspiration. One thing that I learned recently at a local RTL event is that some doctors are taking advantage of a lack of knowledge by family members. They are acting like they are delivering meds and nutrition, yet they are secretly issuing DNR’s. Presenting that they they are delivering meds, nutrition, and life giving care intravenously, while actually depriving them. All while the family members watch them wither away for unknown reasons. Why, because these so called doctors have decided that their lives are not “worth” saving. If caught they go to court to take over guardianship of the individual and proceed with the process of euthanasia. Most don’t get caught, and loved ones have no idea. It’s disgraceful. It’s murder. These patients aren’t willing participants. I’ve heard testimonials, I’ve even personally experienced it with a good friend. Beware people, these docs exist.
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It’s disconcerting that 54% of medical practitioners support euthanasia. Considering that the Church teaches that we are to submit to the authority of physicians in matters of health, unless the patient or guardian recognizes that the recommendation isn’t appropriate, we really have to be on guard through research and careful evaluation of all medical advice at the end of life.
Sadly, it doesn’t always help to have someone in the family who is trained in a medical field. Sometimes it seems to me that they have seen so much suffering at the end of lives that they err in false compassion, thinking it would decrease suffering to end a love one’s life sooner. Of course we know better because we know that suffering in Purgatory is even worse than the suffering of mortal disease. Ending life sooner only relieves the suffering of the person who watches someone in the process of dying, but that relief is only temporary.
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