40 Days of Life | Day 39 | Death with Dignity

Death with Dignity refers to the practice of physician-assisted suicided for patients with a terminal illness. Many consider it an act of mercy towards patients nearing death. Those who suffer in physical pain and mental anguish in the last days of life.

Six states (CA, CO, HI, OR, VT, WA) and Washington D.C. passed laws protecting physicians in prescribing medication to end life. The practice is legal according to the supreme court in MT though they’ve not passed any related statutes. Patients must request the medication and display mental clarity at the time of administration. Eligible patients have a terminal diagnosis and presumably fewer than 6 months to live.

I attended a physician lead lecture on this topic. They called this practice medical aid in dying. Proponents say the difference is the patient self-administers the lethal medication. So they do not consider it physician-assisted suicide. Does that mean it’s just suicide? The patient’s death certificate must not list suicide as the cause of death, instead the name of their terminal illness. Medical aid in dying mainly differs from physician-assisted suicide because “suicide” is not in the name. The circular nature of this argument is confusing.

One question brought up in the lecture was the view of “faith communities.” Many do not understand why some consider this act of “compassion” unethical. Though doctors expressed their own discomfort with prescribing this medication, most feel they honor the “right” of the patient to end suffering and to choose the time of their death.

Some present this idea in a neat-and-tidy package. But it raises a lot of questions for any human in any stage of life.

Do humans have a right to determine the time of death? To take their own life? Is this something most would even desire?

In seasons of deep suffering do we possess the mental clarity to make drastic decisions?

At what point in suffering is it ok to decide life is no longer worth living? What about mental suffering? What about those who suffer with illnesses and pain lasting well beyond six months? Is death a good option to end their suffering?

What is the role of suffering for humans? How have you seen that played out in your own life? How did you learn and grow because of suffering?

What does physician-assisted suicide communicate about the dignity of human life? The role of physicians to do-no-harm? That a doctor can tell you, you’re right, choose death over life?

What do we believe about God? Where we came from? Where we are going?

Oxford dictionary defines dignity as “the state or quality of being worthy of honor or respect.” Suicide is perhaps the one act most disrespectful to oneself, to mankind and to God our Creator. Yet some consider it dignified to expedite one’s own death.

Good Friday is a day to remember the suffering and death of Jesus. Before his death, Jesus suffered ridicule and oppression. He felt pain and persecution and experienced betrayal and denial. He knew there was a purpose to his suffering, but he prayed that his Father would find another way, yet remained in alignment with the Father’s will. He did not stop his accusers but allowed the fulfillment of prophecy. He led a life of obedience even unto death.

At the moment of Jesus’ death the Bible tells us “Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!’ And having said this he breathed his last.” (Luke 23:46 ESV)

He displayed the ultimate act of submission to God’s will, no matter the cost. What a beautiful example for approaching life and death, “into your hands I commit my spirit.”

As our culture continues to redefine human dignity, consider this encouragement from 1 Peter chapter 2:

“For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” (1 Peter 2:19 -25)

40 Days of Life | Day 37 | Human Rights

40 Days of Life | Day 35 | Goodness Beauty Truth

40 Days of Life | Day 32 | Killer Angel

40 Days of Life | Day 31 | God’s Rest

40 Days of Life | Day 29 | The Good Samaritan

40 Days of Life | Day 28 | Life and the Church

40 Days of Life | Day 27 | The Patient

40 Days of Life | Day 25 | Redemption

40 Days of Life | Day 22 | Reproductive Rights

40 Days of Life | Day 20 | Fasting From Selfish Desires

40 Days of Life | Day 18 | Integrity

40 Days of Life | Day 16 | Sight for the Blind