> Yet the Christian right insists that the agony be prolonged to a maximum.
Christianity didn't always hold this view. I suppose some of the movement comes from the commandment "Thou shall not kill". Of course that is a very poor translation. A better one would be "Thou shall not kill without justification".
That is, pre-meditated and with intent. The current version could wind up damning you for self-defence.
Unless you're going off to war to kill bad people. Then it's justified. And the other side justifies it with their side's supernatural beliefs.
On abortion, it's surprisingly unambiguous. Kill an unborn baby, pay a fine to the parents. That's it. It even says this immediately after saying murderers should be put to death. It's in one of the harshest parts of the bible (Leviticus, I believe), and yet abortion is only a misdemeanor.
> Christianity didn't always hold this view.
[1] http://books.google.ca/books?id=zYZQBc9426QC&pg=PA14
[2] bit.ly/zITvj31) no abortion never jamais, under no circumstances. Nor advising women on how to do it themselves.
2) no euthanasia never jamais, under no circumstances. No advising people on how to DIY it either.
3) no refusing medical aid to anyone for any reason
4) never go against patient wishes for not getting treated
5) never, ever, advise anyone on the use of poison
Some highlights from the Hippocratic oath. The first source of which is, unsurprisingly, not the Bible.
And if that doesn't clarify things, read some Greek plays about just how wrong things can go, and you'll understand why physicians would want to avoid any involvement and keep things secret. It'll make sense. It'll make make clear even to people who assume the very worst about people that people can go much, much further than they ever dreamed in their worst nightmares. It'll make clear to even the most liberal person that, yes, there are things consenting adults can choose to do that justify throwing them in jail, even execution. Not just one, but plenty.
IMO, the question at hand is more like: ‘should we keep someone on life support when there is little to no chance that person will get better?’. And is taking someone off life support really the same as murder?
I do think we should mention that there are definitely 2 cases to consider, maybe 3. First, if that person has made his choice clear. Second if he hasn't. Second case can be split up into "family/friends/significant others want to end it" and otherwise.