Prolonging life or hindering death? An Orthodox perspective on death, dying and euthanasia.
This article addresses death as a biological event and attempts to approach it as a mystery within the light of the Orthodox Christian theology and tradition. First, the value of the last moments of the life of a human being is analyzed; then the state of living is differentiated from the state of surviving that results, in some extreme cases, from the intrusion of technology in medicine. The article elaborates on the sacred and spiritual character of death which, when viewed within the light of the Christ's resurrection, is transformed into a great blessing. The last part of the article focuses on the newly emerged issue of euthanasia and the reasons behind it. It poses certain vital questions that ought to be answered before legalization gets on its way. Finally, the conclusion summarizes the position of the Orthodox Church of Greece on death, dying and euthanasia.
Hatzinikolaou
Nikolaos
N
Bioethics Committee, Church of Greece, Hellenic Center for Biomedical Ethics, G. Gennimata 51, 162 31 Vyronas, Athens, Greece. info@bioethics.org.gr
D003643:Death; D033003:Eastern Orthodoxy; D005065:Euthanasia / Q000941:ethics*; D006801:Humans; D008020:Life Support Care / Q000941:ethics*; D010146:Pain; D019452:Terminally Ill; D028725:Theology