It was reported in the news today that a famous sports journalist from Taiwan ended his life today at a clinic in Switzerland. He passed away away after taking the drugs (poison?), surrounded by his family members. I can only imagine what his family went through.
According to the news report, he raised the cup, and said to the camera: “Farewell, so long” in Chinese and English. His family softly sang a hymn as he took four sips, and his son said: “Dad, I love you,” and “Relax, there's no more pain”. He then collapsed in his son's arms as his family clapped and sobbed....
One of the most difficult issues for me personally as a pro-life person. But what kind of life is it if it is in constant and unbearable pain and anguish? Should the right to life also include the right to choose not to live?
If the right to freedom of religion includes a right not to have a religion, the right to life can be arguably be said in to include the right not to choose life. Although i do not agree that the right to end one own's life should be allowed in any situation, i know of people who are in constant and unbearable pain - where sadly, the only way to end it is to end life. Very difficult issue - for me.
Inhumane treatment - that is also another point. Isn't allowing a person to suffer excruciating pain and slowly waste away a form of torture or cruel or inhuman or degrading treatment?
To make things even more difficult, I am a pro-life Christian! The Bible does say that we shall not kill. That is clear. But that is also the general rule. We cannot take that to be absolute - cannot kill in any or all situations. God had many times commanded his people to kill those who are evil and sinful. In Exodus 22:2, it is provided that killing in self-defence is allowed (killing a burglar).
Having said that, nothing is said expressly regarding terminally ill people who are going through agonising pain and suffering.
While I also agree that whatever torment we face here will ultimately end, it is of no (or little) comfort to the person who is going through such suffering. The question is whether is it God's will for such a person to suffer like that or should they be allowed to choose to end it?
Very difficult issue for me...
*Who can forget the cute scene where the little children had to go to sleep and sang this song before leaving?
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