Physician-assisted suicide?

Apologia, etc.
By Hendrik van der Breggen
August 13, 2011

Physcian-assisted suicide?

From time to time, I present "Apologia, etc." in Apologia to inform readers of some goings-on relating to my life and work or to share some of my Apologia-related thoughts that aren't published in the column itself. Today, readers are invited to read "The Image of God: Why Life Is Worth Defending Against Physician-Assisted Suicide." This article was published in the Spring 2011 issue of Focus magazine, a publication of the Christian Medical and Dental Society of Canada. See pages 8-13.

(If the reader is not a Christian, then I recommend a look at pages 11-12 only, in which I set out seven secular reasons for casting doubt onto the wisdom of physician-assisted suicide.)

Article synopsis: In response to recent efforts by the B.C. Civil Liberties Association to legalize physician-assisted suicide in Canada, I set out arguments to defend three major theses: (1) that human dignity is a non-negotiable, essential part of human nature, i.e., a built-in reflection of God; (2) that Christian Scripture condemns suicide and, by implication, physician-assisted suicide, though, significantly, Scripture also tells us to provide physical, emotional, and psychological care for those who suffer; and (3) that there is substantial secular doubt that can be cast onto the wisdom of legalizing physician-assisted suicide—enough doubt to encourage our secular society to respect true human dignity by rejecting physician-assisted suicide.

P.S. See too the following Apologia columns on Physician-Assisted Suicide:

Physician-Assisted Suicide: Look at pros AND cons (September 29, 2011)

On Putting Down Pets and People (August 18, 2011)

Physician-Assisted Suicide is a Slippery Slope (December 1, 2011)