Euthanasia – a crime or a human right to choose death?

The contemporary phenomenon of euthanasia is very extensive and very complex. It is a manifestation of the „culture of death”, as evidenced by common practices in many countries and attempts to legalize it. In Poland, although euthanasia is forbidden and punished, a significant part of the society approves of its introduction. At the same time, the common awareness that it is a crime and a crime is fading away (EV 66). The most important motive of euthanasia, meaningless suffering, can only be understood, accepted and defeated in the light of faith. Moreover, the request to shorten the life is not always motivated by unbearable suffering. It often comes from feelings of loneliness, lack of interest and compassion, and proper care. So, asking for euthanasia is a desperate cry for help and love. Rather than cut corners, it would be better to increase the involvement of family, friends and physicians in palliative care, which could remove the causes of such a radical decision as asking to die. Public acceptance of euthanasia can seriously reduce the costs of palliative care, both financially and scientifically. The recipe for this phenomenon is rather the educational effort of society, which should accept the phenomenon of disease, aging and death, so that in families and society there should be a dignified place reserved for sick, disabled, old and dying people.

Keywords: euthanasia, arguments for euthanasia, the Church’s teaching on euthanasia

Abstrakt

Współczesne zjawisko eutanazji jest bardzo rozległe i złożone. Jest przejawem „kultury śmierci”, o czym świadczą powszechne praktyki w wielu krajach i próby jej legalizacji. W Polsce, choć eutanazja jest zakazana i karana, znaczna część społeczeństwa aprobuje jej wprowadzenie. Jednocześnie zanika powszechna świadomość, że jest to przestępstwo i zbrodnia (por. EV 66). Najważniejszy motyw eutanazji – bezsensowne cierpienie – można zrozumieć, zaakceptować i pokonać tylko w świetle wiary. Co więcej, prośba o skrócenie życia nie zawsze jest motywowana cierpieniem nie do zniesienia. Często wynika to z poczucia samotności, braku zainteresowania i współczucia oraz właściwej opieki. Proszenie o eutanazję jest więc rozpaczliwym wołaniem o pomoc i miłość. Zamiast iść na skróty, lepiej byłoby zwiększyć zaangażowanie rodziny, przyjaciół i lekarzy w opiekę paliatywną, co mogłoby usunąć przyczyny tak radykalnej decyzji, jak żądanie śmierci. Społeczna akceptacja eutanazji może poważnie obniżyć koszty opieki paliatywnej, zarówno finansowo, jak i naukowo. Receptą na to zjawisko jest raczej edukacyjny wysiłek społeczeństwa, które powinno zaakceptować zjawisko choroby, starzenia się i śmierci, aby w rodzinach i społeczeństwie było godne miejsce zarezerwowane dla osób chorych, niepełnosprawnych, starych i umierających.

The contemporary phenomenon of euthanasia is very extensive and very complex. It is a manifestation of the „culture of death”, as evidenced by common practices in many countries and attempts to legalize it. In Poland, although euthanasia is forbidden and punished, a significant part of the society approves of its introduction. At the same time, the common awareness that it is a crime and a crime is fading away (EV 66). The most important motive of euthanasia, meaningless suffering, can only be understood, accepted and defeated in the light of faith. Moreover, the request to shorten the life is not always motivated by unbearable suffering. It often comes from feelings of loneliness, lack of interest and compassion, and proper care. So, asking for euthanasia is a desperate cry for help and love. Rather than cut corners, it would be better to increase the involvement of family, friends and physicians in palliative care, which could remove the causes of such a radical decision as asking to die. Public acceptance of euthanasia can seriously reduce the costs of palliative care, both financially and scientifically. The recipe for this phenomenon is rather the educational effort of society, which should accept the phenomenon of disease, aging and death, so that in families and society there should be a dignified place reserved for sick, disabled, old and dying people.