Euthanasia: Αn Act of Mercy?
Euthanasia: Αn Act of Mercy?

Author(s): Miltiadis Vantsos
Subject(s): Theology and Religion, Religion and science
Published by: Editura Doxologia
Keywords: euthanasia; mercy; compassion; care; love; suffering; death; Christian ethics;
Summary/Abstract: Euthanasia is often presented as an act of mercy and compassion towards terminally ill patients who are experiencing severe pain and agony due to their proximity to death. Mercy is a positive emotion because it involves feeling compassion towards a fellow human being in pain and is therefore accepted by all humanitarian ethics. However, is this sufficient moral justification for taking a human life, even when it is done at the patient's request? This question is addressed by presenting the mercy argument and its critique, and by exploring ways of expressing compassion for patients from the perspective of Christian ethics.

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