Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Assisted death and martyrdom.

David C Thomasma

    Christian Bioethics
    |October 20, 2001
    PubMed
    Summary
    This summary is machine-generated.

    This study examines Catholic teachings on assisted suicide and euthanasia, questioning condemnation of end-of-life assistance. It explores historical exceptions and suggests love as a potential motive for justifiable euthanasia, though Church doctrine is unlikely to change.

    Related Concept Videos

    You might also read

    Related Articles

    Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

    Sort by
    Same author

    Dialogue with David C. Thomasma and Renzo Pegoraro.

    Theoretical medicine and bioethics·2005
    Same author

    Early bioethics.

    Cambridge quarterly of healthcare ethics : CQ : the international journal of healthcare ethics committees·2002
    Same author

    Down syndrome: still a social stigma.

    American journal of perinatology·2002
    Same author

    Ensuring a good death.

    Bioethics forum·1997
    Same author

    A communal model for presumed consent for research on the neurologically vulnerable.

    Accountability in research·1996
    Same author

    Education of ethics committees.

    Bioethics forum·1994
    Same journal

    (Re)-Emerging Challenges in Christian Bioethics: Leading Voices in Christian Bioethics.

    Christian bioethics·2022
    Same journal

    Tragic Choices, Revisited: COVID-19 and the Hidden Ethics of Rationing.

    Christian bioethics·2022
    Same journal

    Relational Personhood, Social Justice and the Common Good: Catholic Contributions toward a Public Health Ethics.

    Christian bioethics·2018
    Same journal

    Resisting the therapeutic reduction: on the significance of sin.

    Christian bioethics·2007
    Same journal

    Illness, Disease, and Sin: the Connection between Genetics and Spirituality - A Response.

    Christian bioethics·2007
    Same journal

    Illness, disease and sin: the connection between genetics and spirituality.

    Christian bioethics·2007
    See all related articles

    Area of Science:

    • Bioethics
    • Religious Studies
    • Medical Ethics

    Background:

    • Catholic Church doctrine traditionally prohibits killing, encompassing assisted suicide and euthanasia.
    • Historical precedents show the Church has adapted its stance on killing under specific conditions, such as capital punishment and just war.
    • Contemporary ethical debates question the consistent condemnation of assisted suicide and euthanasia, particularly for suffering individuals requesting aid in dying.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To analyze Catholic teaching on the prohibition of killing in relation to assisted suicide and euthanasia.
    • To explore historical instances where the Church modified its stance on killing.
    • To investigate the potential for assisted suicide and euthanasia to be viewed through the lens of love and care, drawing parallels with martyrdom narratives.
    Keywords:
    Death and EuthanasiaJesusReligious Approach

    Related Experiment Videos

    Main Methods:

    • Historical analysis of Catholic theological and ethical teachings on life and death.
    • Examination of Church guidelines on capital punishment and just war.
    • A thought experiment (Gedankexperiment) exploring martyrdom narratives and their implications for end-of-life decisions.

    Main Results:

    • The study highlights a historical pattern of the Catholic Church developing exceptions to its rule against killing.
    • It questions the unwavering condemnation of assisted suicide and euthanasia when faced with patient suffering and repeated requests.
    • Martyrdom stories are presented as a potential, albeit unconventional, framework for understanding life-and-death decisions motivated by love.

    Conclusions:

    • Requesting assisted suicide or euthanasia out of love for family or caregivers could be considered a justifiable form of euthanasia.
    • Despite this ethical consideration, significant changes in the Catholic Church's official stance on assisted suicide and euthanasia are not anticipated in the near future.
    • The examination of historical precedents and martyrdom narratives offers a nuanced perspective on the ethical complexities of end-of-life choices within a religious context.