DiscussWorldIssues - Socio-Economic Religion and Political Uncensored Debate - View Single Post - Is euthanasia or turning off life support an issue for Buddhists

**zibTefapparia** · 05-04-2010, 01:46 AM

Buddhist ethics revolves primarily around intent. If the intent is to be compassionate, I'd see no problem.

Seems to me that FBM is right on target, but, to me, issues concerning Euthanasia are complex and multi-faceted depending whose point of view you take- including the receiver, the enabler or giver, and, sometimes, the decision maker separate from the person receiving the euthanasia. If one poses the question on a purely "religious" basis, the answers are easier that if one asks the question from a broader perspective. It seems to me that, in Buddhism, the choice of euthanasia could be considered right action in some circumstances and I would be interested to know of any suttas that address this issue.

From a personal point of view, I would like to have the option of being euthanized if I develop a terminal disease and the remaining life would only be one of suffering with no "useful"( a personal judgment) time left. Assuming I was mentally competent, I would have my family involved so that they need not feel guilty. During my career, I saw more than a few terminally ill folks kept alive using heroic means which only increased suffering, often at the direction of family members who either did not know or did not understand the wishes of the ill person or, equally as likely, were unable to react to the idea of death with any rational thought.. At times the ill person had advised their next of kin to squeeze every last second out of life.

From the point of view of the provider – usually a doctor – that provides the drugs to end life, many difficult questions arise. Should the provider go simply on the wishes of the patient? Suppose the patient is severely depressed and requests euthanasia – should such a patient have the right to do so and, if not, what entity should decide such a person is not a candidate? How do we go about generating a list of conditions which justify euthanasia? What if the family of a profoundly demented individual requests euthanasia for their family member – should the family have the right to do so regardless of the severity of the dementia, thereby ending someone else's life (possibly based on financial reasons)? What if, after performing euthanasia, a long-lost son or daughter who hasn't seen the person euthanized in decades shows up and challenges, in court, the doctor's decision to proceed? Most of these considerations would be paramount in the US where litigation against physicians purely to make money is so common.

Suppose you are the person making the decision to euthanize another. Will you be able to do it? Will you have pangs of uncertainty even if professionals are telling you to proceed. If it is a loved one (say a parent) what will the after effects of such a decision be on you?

I can tell you that, even after 30 years of medical practice, "pulling the plug" on someone was intensely uncomfortable for me, even of I had no doubt that it was the right thing to do - I could provide examples if there is any question of when such a thing is justified. In the US, physicians get very little training or exposure to these ideas until they are actually in practice. Once in practice they pretty much "go it alone" when it comes to such issues – there is little sharing (with the probable exception of psychiatry) between physicians about such questions.

Of course, one can choose suicide as a means of ending life but such an action has profound effects on loved ones remaining. I have been told by psychiatrist friends that suicide almost always entails anger or a wish to punish someone else and my experience bears this out.

I've tried to summarize some views on an issue I find to be very complex and difficult to analyze. I would love to hear the opinions of others about some of the considerations I brought up.

Frank, euthanasia could be an issue if you wished and no one is willing to provide the means.

05-04-2010, 01:46 AM	#4
zibTefapparia Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 457 Senior Member	Buddhist ethics revolves primarily around intent. If the intent is to be compassionate, I'd see no problem. Seems to me that FBM is right on target, but, to me, issues concerning Euthanasia are complex and multi-faceted depending whose point of view you take- including the receiver, the enabler or giver, and, sometimes, the decision maker separate from the person receiving the euthanasia. If one poses the question on a purely "religious" basis, the answers are easier that if one asks the question from a broader perspective. It seems to me that, in Buddhism, the choice of euthanasia could be considered right action in some circumstances and I would be interested to know of any suttas that address this issue. From a personal point of view, I would like to have the option of being euthanized if I develop a terminal disease and the remaining life would only be one of suffering with no "useful"( a personal judgment) time left. Assuming I was mentally competent, I would have my family involved so that they need not feel guilty. During my career, I saw more than a few terminally ill folks kept alive using heroic means which only increased suffering, often at the direction of family members who either did not know or did not understand the wishes of the ill person or, equally as likely, were unable to react to the idea of death with any rational thought.. At times the ill person had advised their next of kin to squeeze every last second out of life. From the point of view of the provider – usually a doctor – that provides the drugs to end life, many difficult questions arise. Should the provider go simply on the wishes of the patient? Suppose the patient is severely depressed and requests euthanasia – should such a patient have the right to do so and, if not, what entity should decide such a person is not a candidate? How do we go about generating a list of conditions which justify euthanasia? What if the family of a profoundly demented individual requests euthanasia for their family member – should the family have the right to do so regardless of the severity of the dementia, thereby ending someone else's life (possibly based on financial reasons)? What if, after performing euthanasia, a long-lost son or daughter who hasn't seen the person euthanized in decades shows up and challenges, in court, the doctor's decision to proceed? Most of these considerations would be paramount in the US where litigation against physicians purely to make money is so common. Suppose you are the person making the decision to euthanize another. Will you be able to do it? Will you have pangs of uncertainty even if professionals are telling you to proceed. If it is a loved one (say a parent) what will the after effects of such a decision be on you? I can tell you that, even after 30 years of medical practice, "pulling the plug" on someone was intensely uncomfortable for me, even of I had no doubt that it was the right thing to do - I could provide examples if there is any question of when such a thing is justified. In the US, physicians get very little training or exposure to these ideas until they are actually in practice. Once in practice they pretty much "go it alone" when it comes to such issues – there is little sharing (with the probable exception of psychiatry) between physicians about such questions. Of course, one can choose suicide as a means of ending life but such an action has profound effects on loved ones remaining. I have been told by psychiatrist friends that suicide almost always entails anger or a wish to punish someone else and my experience bears this out. I've tried to summarize some views on an issue I find to be very complex and difficult to analyze. I would love to hear the opinions of others about some of the considerations I brought up. Frank, euthanasia could be an issue if you wished and no one is willing to provide the means.
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