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Euthanasia

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{{cleanup}}'''Euthanasia''' is when those suffering who suffer from pain painful diseases wish to die on their own or kill themselves, perhaps with the assistance of a doctor. Thus, sometimes it is sometimes called ''assisted suicide. Very '' or, very often in recent this times, it has been (euphemistically) called "dying with dignity. For example an individual who has suffered immensely and who knows there is little or no possibility of recovery wish to die. " ==The issue== For the medical community , this issue brings up tough complicated ethical problems. Does a person For example, does an individual have the right to choose death as an option? Euthanasia also raises the idea question of whether or not a doctor should participate in such a practice. These are very difficult issues to face, but ones that must be confronted when dealing with euthanasia.
A person must first realize that euthanasia is a subject that is not easily defined. The origin of the word "euthanasia" comes from ancient Greek meaning "good death." The following shows us that there are the three categories to ways in which euthanasia can be classified. "(1) by performed: #By an affirmative act designed to bring about death, such as the injection of air into a person’s veins; (2) by #By refusing to commence or continue further medical treatment required to maintain life; (3) by #By refusing to commence or continue further, ‘heroic’ "heroic" or '"extraordinary' " measures, such as the use of a heart-lung machine following a massive stroke." The first two definitions instances are commonly referred to as ''euthanasia by action '' and ''euthanasia by omission. However, euthanasia can also be voluntary where an individual chooses death''. Euthanasia is not a black-and-white issue , and the ethical concerns are even more complicated. As euthanasia has become more prevalent , the medical community has had to adjust its understanding.
On the surface, euthanasia is a conflict to any physician. A doctor is to prolong life, not to end it.
"For doctors, this dilemma challenges the Hippocratic Oath which commits them to increasingly incompatible duties-to preserve life and relive suffering. This conflict of conscience is steadily magnified by the swelling numbers of elderly people. In these circumstances, many people fear the prospect of senility far more than they fear death."<!--Where is this text from? Citations needed.-->
Yet the argument could be made that a physician is in fact helping another person by assisting in their death. They are relieving the pain of the suffering person. Perhaps this willingness to remedy pain by any means possible is too apparent in this day and age. When studying the topic of euthanasia , one needs to wonder whether or not people are seeking a short answer for an ongoing problem. Thus, the medical community needs to should look for further cures, and likewise people should be willing to see a problem their illness through.  Naturally such a topic has induced controversy from a religious perspective as well. Christian people see a basic good value in human life and wish to do anything that will preserve life. "Christianity affirms what mankind has said about the inherent value and dignity of human life. It affirms man's basic unity and his living-in-this-world for God and for others, although he has a destiny beyond this world." The previous statement is one that expresses a [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] opinion. Yet the same thought is common to all Christians. A very similar opinion is expressed by the Orthodox Church.
Naturally, such a topic has raised controversy from a religious perspective as well. Christian people see a basic good value in human life and wish to do anything that will preserve life. "Christianity affirms what mankind has said about the inherent value and dignity of human life. It affirms man's basic unity and his living-in-this-world for God and for others, although he has a destiny beyond this world," according to [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] opinion. Yet the same thought is common to all Christians. A very similar opinion is expressed by the Orthodox Church.
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"The Church accompanies its faithful from even before birth, through all the steps of life to death and beyond, with its prayers, rites, sacraments, preaching, teaching, and its love, faith and hope. All of life, and even death itself, are drawn into the realm of the life of the Church. Death is seen as evil in itself, and symbolic of all those forces which oppose God-given life and its fulfillment. The Orthodox Church has a very strong pro-life stand which in part expresses itself in opposition to doctrinaire advocacy of euthanasia." ([http://www.goarch.org/en/ourfaith/articles/article7101.asp ''The Stand of the Orthodox Church on Controversial Issues''] by Fr. [[Stanley Harakas]])

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