End of life — responses

Question 1

Religious responses to end of life care

Answer 1

Roman Catholic
- Many Christian’s encourage this as stated in Matthew 22 of the Bible, “love thy neighbour”
- In Matthew 25:36, Jesus says “I was sick and you looked after me.” This may encourage Christians to pursue a career in healthcare or simply help out as a volunteer or friend
Islam:
- Being a Khalifa in Islam means to look after what God has given humans. This could extend to family members or even elderly neighbours who require assistance
- Hadith narrated by Al-tirmidhi, records the prophet saying, “He is not one of us who has no compassion for our little ones and does not honour our old ones.”

Question 2

Non- religious responses to end of life care

Answer 2

Humanist
- Humanists value personal autonomy, so would argue that whther end of life care is suitable depends on the patient. If they wish it, they should have access to it. However, they would also seek the choice of having assisted dying as an option, as they believe that everyone should have control over their body.
Utilitarian
- utilitarians may argue that having to watch your relative suffer and letting them stay alive is causing more pain than pleasure, so letting them die would cause more pleasure and therefore, be morally right.

Question 3

Religious responses to assisted dying

Answer 3

Roman Catholic
- many Roman Catholics oppose the use of assisted dying, mostly due to he belief of the sanctity of life. Indeed, the Catholic Church of Scotland opposes Liam McCarthur’s bill to legalise assisted dying in Scotland.

Islamic:
Many Muslims also oppose assisted dying, mainly due to the belief that only Allah can take away life as He is the one who gives it. This is supported by a verse in surah 3, which says “Nor can a soul die except by Allah’s leave, the term being fixed as by writing.”
Former first minister Humza Yusuf has indicated that he does not support Liam McCarthur’s bill to legalise assisted dying.

Question 4

Non-religious responses to assisted dying

Answer 4

Humanist
- humanists believe in personal autonomy, so would believe that it’s up to the patient to decide whether they would want to die and denying this choice would not be morally right. They believe that we only live once, so we should get a say on how we live it, including how it ends.
Utilitarian
- utilitarians may argue that choosing to die would end the pain of the patient and those around them, so would be the most morally right thing to do. Furthermore, it would not be using up resources that others may need to recover whilst terminally ill patients can not recover

Question 5

What does exodus 20 saying in one of the Ten Commandments

Answer 5

“Thou shall not kill”

Question 6

What is a key teaching of Jesus mentioned in Matthew 22?

Answer 6

“Love your neighbour”