Euthanasia - Italy Faces A Political Crisis
Posted: Thursday, February 26, 2009
by Joel Hendon
http://hebronics.org/index.html
Several nations have their share of differences of opinion on the use of euthanasia But it has become a do or die (no pun intended...really) political war in Italy. There is much controversy here in the U.S. Although it has not come to the point that elections have been decided upon it, or at least none that I know of.
The Italian parliament is considering a bill to clarify the various issues concerning euthanasia and have vowed to work swiftly to bring up a law that will eliminate the confusion and settle the issue that it is allowed or not allowed. This issue became hotly contested recently over the case of one woman.
Based on this conclusion, the Supreme Court gave the verdict that she could be allowed to die.
She then died four days after her medication and forced feeding was stopped.
Here in the U.S., that would probably have solved the issue, but in Italy, it is raging among the populace as well as government officials. The Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi, insists that this procedure be banned while the nation's president, Giorgio Napolitano is just as adamant that it be allowed. Italy is heavily Catholic and it is felt that a real crisis could arise from this especially for the president.
His government passed a bill to stop the suspension of medication and food to Ms. Englaro, but President Napolitano refused to sign it and contended that it was unconstitutional. So this is where the controversy flared. Prime Minister Berlusconi says it was murder and he is not going to turn a blind eye to murder.
The Catholic Church has a lot of influence in the government and they oppose any form of euthanasia. The lower house of parliament is expected to proclaim the act as illegal since most of them oppose Napolitano. Evidently, their parliament can overrule the Supreme Court.
This is a subject with some of the most profound ramifications I have ever attempted to determine as right from wrong. I try my very best to be a sincere and faithful Christian. Many, perhaps most, Christians feel that any type of euthanasia is sinful. But is it really? And I am not attempting to defend it or say that it is, but rather that I just don't know. For instance, I have a "Living Will" in which I request that no efforts be made to extend my life in any way, once it is determined by reputable Medical Doctors (plural) that I can no longer live without life support, or that I will be hopelessly bedridden, or will spend the rest of my days on heavy sedation, etc. Now, is this requesting euthanasia? I do not think so. I know that we are not to usurp the decisions made by God. But my view of that differs from others in many respects.
Now, with that said, suppose one does not have a living will, and is in a comatose state? Does his mate, or children have the right to say, take him off that ventilator? Take the case above. Seventeen years in a coma!! Life is short, regardless of how old one gets. I see no reason to prolong life once one becomes totally helpless and whose mind is gone. I know that some will take issue with me on this, but it simply transcends reason to me.
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Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)Joel here is fact for those socialized health lovers. Our aunt living in a social medicine nation was sick with cancer. She just passed a week ago. By the way she had been waiting 20 years to come here legally and probably could have been here if she would only jump that fence. That said, she was expected to die 2 years ago. That is what the government doctors wrote on her papers. She lasted longer then the date. When she reached that point and was still living they cut all benefits completely. Hey she was supposed to be dead how dare she mess up the budget. She of course had little to no money left for any medicine, doctors, care. She died without anything, sick as a dog. She died a miserable death. Of course she got a ton of unfortunately letters. I could write to other facts but it will do no good, we have become a society looking for what we can get for free. Good Job, RobertPS, your trying to address sin. That word no longer exists it has been replaced with relative.Hi Robert, Thanks for commenting. You ar right, we have departed from anything good, it seems.
Interesting article!I wouldn't class stopping the ventilator of someone who is brain dead as true euthanasia, as it isn't actively ending their life, but rather stopping the prolonging of it (although I think this is technically called non-active euthanasia - stopping lifesupport and letting nature take its course, but not actively ending the life).Once the mind is gone and unrecoverable, keeping the body alive seems rather morbid to me, somewhat akin to, though milder than, stringing up a dead body like a puppet and trying to pretend it is still alive. This just stops people moving on and dealing with the death (and the death occurred when the mind became no more).I don't see how anyone can really oppose this kind of thing, providing adequate safeguards are in place.Active voluntary euthanasia is a different issue, but I support it in principle - people of sound mind should have the right to escape their unbearable agonies if they wish (assuming the medical professionals confirm there is no real hope of improvement). There need to be safeguards in place though to protect people being pressured into choosing this kind of euthanasia.Hi Ben, thanks for commenting. You said in a few words what I tried to say in a whole article. I agree with you. But, you see, this case in Italy sounds to me like simply allowing one to die that cannot improve. Very similar to my 'living will'
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