Physician-assisted suicide: what's the story?
After telling a story of a family's inquiry into physician-assisted suicide on behalf of a loved one, John F. Kilner uses the story to discuss some specific ways in which modern medicine often fails to supply life-affirming alternatives in situations like the one this family faced. Knowing about these alternatives is important for Christians, since God is the author of freedom, justice, and life itself. Moreover, when medicine has nothing more to offer suffering patients, it should be prepared to assist them in their suffering, rather than simply eliminate the sufferer. The example of Jesus' suffering is important here.
Kilner
J F
JF
Northwestern University Medical School, USA.
D001293:Attitude to Death; D002835:Christianity; D003657:Decision Making; D005065:Euthanasia / Q000941:ethics; D005190:Family; D006801:Humans; D010146:Pain; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000941:ethics; D010820:Physicians; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000517:prevention & control; D017236:Suicide, Assisted / Q000941:ethics*