Don't miss the new EFC resources on euthanasia added February 2010. The large image below is a short EFC video that you can watch or download. Principles Life is a gift from God which should be respected and protected through all of its stages. Each human life has inherent worth, regardless of age or physical, mental or other abilities. Care for the sick and the elderly is part of God’s call for Christians. We must not abandon those in need, and we must not deliberately bring about their death, even for compassionate reasons. The Issue Medical technology's ability to prolong life complicates questions regarding when and how life should end. Many people do not want machines to keep them alive, particularly if they are in pain; real problems arise, however, when artificial measures of resuscitation and life support delay death rather than properly supporting life. At the same time, we must distinguish between a patient refusing medical treatment when death is inevitable and choosing death when it is not. When someone struggling with a terminal or debilitating illness asks to die, the questions which face us as family members and friends, as neighbours and as a society, include: "what is the merciful response?", "what does compassion require of us?" Such suffering is real; the desire to end the pain and suffering of terminally ill patients may be understandable. There is indeed a growing tendency to promote “mercy killing” as a solution to pain and suffering resulting from age, illness, or mental or physical disabilities. Since all human live is precious, though, euthanasia or assisted suicide is never a right or acceptable solution. God has created medical practices that treat extremely effectively pain and other distressing symptoms of terminal disease. Palliative care and emotional support are necessary and appropriate responses to those who suffer from terminal illnesses and/or are near death. Conversely, advances in palliative care and pain management methods are often threatened when euthanasia and assisted suicide are sanctioned as a means of relieving pain and suffering. A society that seeks to solve problems by intentionally killing, rather than through providing optimal care, will increasingly devalue human life. As a result, legalizing euthanasia and assisted suicide threatens the life of every terminally ill patient and endangers society’s most vulnerable, as well as society at large. In countries like the Netherlands, for example, the sanctioning of euthanasia and assisted suicide has led to an increase in involuntary euthanasia.
Current Status The present law in Canada does not distinguish between euthanasia and other forms of murder. As a result, euthanasia is considered murder under Canada’s Criminal Code. While the offender’s intention to murder is relevant for determining what charges are laid and what sentence is given, the motive for the offence (e.g. compassion, anger, greed) is not taken into consideration. Consent to death by the deceased does not affect the criminal responsibility of the one who inflicts death. Counselling or assisting a suicide is also prohibited in the Criminal Code. The Special Senate Committee on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide held extensive hearings across Canada and recommended in its June 1995 report that euthanasia and assisted suicide remain criminal offences. In a five-year review of the report, released in June 2000, the committee strongly endorsed palliative care and called for national standards. In January 2001, the Supreme Court of Canada released its decision in the case of Robert Latimer , a Saskatchewan farmer convicted of second degree murder in the death of his disabled daughter Tracy. Mr. Latimer argued, among other things, that he should have been able to argue the defence of necessity before the lower court, essentially arguing that he had no choice but to kill his daughter. The Court was unanimous in upholding Mr. Latimer's conviction and sentence. In June 2005 a Private Member's Bill (C-407) was introduced into the House of Commons. This Bill would have made assisted suicide legal. The limitations in this Bill were so vague, as one commentator said, "you could drive a hearse through it." The Bill was debated in the House but died when the election of 2006 was called. On May 13, 2009, another Private Member's Bill (C-384) was introduced into the House of Commons. The Bill remains vague, as Bill C-407 had been. From time to time, there continue to be news stories related to “mercy killing.” Sometimes these involve a disabled child but more often they are related to an elderly spouse. Many times, these are portrayed in the media with a great deal of sympathy as the circumstances are often quite difficult for those involved. EFC Creates Educational Video on Euthanasia
![]() The EFC has created an educational video on euthanasia. Euthanasia and sanctity of life issues are some of the most pressing challenges facing Canadians and parliamentarians today. Learn more by watching the video on the EFC website or download it for your own use from YouTube.
What You Can Do Responding to the Issue What does it mean to live in a society which affirms the dignity of life and one in which we accept a measure of responsibility for one another? How do we respond when people say that they are useless or of no value? In the face of this difficult and complex issue, Christian community needs to develop an ethic concerning death and dying that can be truly useful to those facing extremely difficult decisions. Persons facing death do not need help in dying; they need support to live in the face of suffering. They need comfort, care and protection. We must never cause them to question the value and dignity which is theirs by virtue of being human, and we must never suggest that they should consider giving up. Our role should always be to encourage and to comfort; our resources and our power ought to be used to enable them to live with dignity in the face of death. A strong and unqualified commitment to the sanctity of life by the major institutions of our society is required, particularly in a culture fascinated by and exposed to death and marked by an erosion of the value of life. We must oppose any attempt to legalize euthanasia or assisted suicide or any legislation which will lead to further devaluing of human life. What you can do As Christians, we have a message of hope and compassion. In all we do we must act in ways that bring Christ's compassion into the lives of suffering people. We must communicate our compassion to those who suffer and find their lives to be meaningless so they would rather die than live. Furthermore, we must be prepared to offer more than words in response to those who say that they have no hope in life and wish to die. We cannot proclaim the truth of God's law without bringing Christ's compassion and love in a real way. If we truly reflect Christ in our lives, we will take action to show that God suffers with the suffering and offers hope to those who despair. We must equip ourselves to minister to the disabled, the elderly and those who are terminally ill in informal ways and more structured ways, especially when opportunities arise to participate in hospice care or palliative care. Sample Letter to Parliamentarians on Bill C-384: Use this template when writing to your MP. A. As individuals - Be informed, and willing to inform others. Be prepared for your own end-of-life decisions and those for people you love.
- Know your rights as a patient. If appropriate, designate a proxy in writing, someone to speak for you when you can’t.
- Talk with those who will be making medical decisions for you in case you become incapable of making them yourself. Make sure your proxy decision-maker knows your views on end-of-life decisions.
- Be a source of encouragement to those in your church or community who are disabled or suffering from terminal illness.
- Reach out to people those who are depressed or struggling. Many times, they want to die because they cannot cope and support at these times can make a huge difference in their desire to live.
- Consider supporting palliative care and hospice programs with your time and/or resources.
B. As citizens - Urge your Member of Parliament to do the following:
- Support palliative care programs and establish national standards for palliative care.
- Uphold the current prohibitions against euthanasia and assisted suicide.
- Urge your provincial representative to do the following:
- Increase financial support for palliative care and hospice programs.
- Encourage greater awareness of and training in palliative care among medical practitioners.
- Insist on the full inclusion of spiritual caregivers in palliative care.
C. As family members - Reassure the older members of your family of their value and the meaning in their lives.
- Involve the older members of your family in the regular routines of your life.
- Have regular contact with the seniors in your family. Try to alleviate any loneliness they may feel. Don't make them feel burdensome or forgotten.
D. As churches - Pray for those who feel life is not worth living and for those who are suffering.
- Remind church members of God's love for each person, of the value God places on each person, and of God's compassion for the suffering. Counter the idea that some lives are not worth living.
- Find ways to express love to seniors and the disabled. Consider ministries such as holding services in nursing homes and care facilities, or visiting the elderly and the disabled.
- Be sure not to marginalize seniors or the disabled, but take steps to involve them in the life of the church.
- Make church facilities accessible for the elderly and disabled so that they feel welcome to attend services.
- Offer concrete and practical assistance to seniors, terminally ill or disabled adults and to families caring for disabled or terminally ill children.
- Provide good teaching about death, dying and illness, understood within a Christian worldview.
- Normalize grieving and provide access to proper pastoral care for those who are grieving and mourning
Defining Terms Euthanasia: Euthanasia is defined as deliberately killing someone by action or omission, with or without that person’s consent, for compassionate reasons, for his or her alleged benefit. Voluntary euthanasia:
When the person who is killed gives consent to be killed. (There are problems with determining what is really voluntary). Involuntary euthanasia:
When the person who is killed is incapable of giving consent or does not give consent.
It is not euthanasia to refuse or discontinue medical treatment or give drugs to relieve pain and suffering, even if an unintended effect is to shorten life. Assisted suicide: Assisted suicide is defined as counselling or helping someone to commit suicide; providing an individual with the information, guidance, and means to take his or her own life. When a doctor provides the means for a patient to kill themselves it is called "physician-assisted suicide." Palliative care: Palliative care is aimed at the relief of suffering and the improvement of the quality of life for persons who are bereaved or are living with or dying from advanced illness. It affirms life and regards dying as a normal process. It neither hastens nor postpones death. It provides relief from pain and other distressing symptoms. It integrates the psychological and spiritual aspects of patient care. Patients are offered a support system to help them to live as actively as possible until death. Families are offered a support system to help them to cope during their loved one's illness and their own bereavement.[1] For more on these and related definitions, click here . References [1] Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association. http://www.chpca.net/home.htm
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