Assisted Death

[Gregory Matthews]

Medical Aid In dying (MAID): is an issue that troubles some people.  The Seventh-day Adventist Research Institute has published the following article that addresses this issue.

https://www.adventistbiblicalresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/Reflections-89-January-March-2025.pdf#page=2

NOTE:  I have not formulated an opinion on every aspect of the above article.  I list it because I suggest it is helpful in understanding and considering this current issue.

[Kevin H]

I understand that this has been a big issue for our leaders to discuss, especially, as we have had a number of our giants who died from passive, both voluntery and non-voluntery.  Since the passive has had a strong history in our church, there is discussion on whether it would be more humane to go with the active. Of course, while active has been illegal, it has just been theoretical classroom discussions (I was in a Life of Ellen White class and an Ethics class where it was brought up). However, if the active becomes legal our discussions will have to leave the world of the theoretical and become practical.  

[Joe Knapp]

Quote

When evaluating these cases from a bioethical standpoint, it becomes clear that involuntary MAID
is always wrong because the principle of autonomy is violated. Involuntary MAID goes against the desire of
the patient and/or their caregivers, either to have LST withdrawn, or to have lethal drugs administered. And yet,
there have been cases of this happening around the world when hospitals are full, or when people are persuaded
against their will that dying is in their best interest.

I am concerned about this.

One of my fears is, when assisted suicide is normalized, that we will progress to Involuntary death, in some locations.

Some people might argue that we are moving in that direction now. If insurance companies refuse to pay for procedure or medicines for some people, typically old people, they die sooner.  There are some people who would like to see the older people move on.

We are living in the End-Times and cannot assume these decisions will be done in a Christian manner.

[Joe Knapp]

An article by Aimee Green that was published in the Oregonian on March 4, 2025 states that Oregon Senate Bill 1003 that would expand the Oregon assisted suicide law appears to lack the necessary support to pass.

On February 12 I published an article explaining that the Oregon assisted suicide Bill SB 1003 would expand the Oregon assisted suicide law by:

allows non physicians, such as physician assistants and nurse practitioners to participate in assisted suicide and,

reduces the waiting period from 15 days to 48 hours while enabling the “providing prescriber” to waive the waiting period to essentially allow a same day death and,

requires hospices and hospitals to publicly disclose their assisted suicide policy.

SB 1003, if passed, would be the third time that Oregon would have expanded its assisted suicide law.

https://www.lifenews.com/2025/03/06/oregon-bill-to-expand-assisted-suicide-would-allow-euthanizing-people/

 

This is not going to pass, but EVERY senior citizen should be concerned about this.