Title: Religious Perspectives On Euthanasia - Institute of Clinical Bioethics
Headings: Religious Perspectives On Euthanasia
Religious Perspectives On Euthanasia
General Christian View
Position of Protestant Denominations
Episcopal:
Presbyterian Church in America:
Mainline and Liberal Christian denominations:
Position of Judaism
Position of Islam

Content: The sanctity of human life prescribes that, in any situation short of self-defense or martyrdom, human life must be treated as an end in itself. It may thus not be terminated or shortened because of considerations of the patient’s convenience or usefulness, or even sympathy with the suffering of the patient. Thus euthanasia may not be performed either in the interest of the patient or of anyone else. Jewish law strongly condemns any act that shortens life and treats the killing of a person whom the doctors say will die in any event to be an act of murder. Positive euthanasia is thus ruled out. Even individual autonomy is secondary to the sanctity of human. Position of Islam
Human life per se is a value to be respected unconditionally. The concept of a life not worth living does not exist in Islam. Justification of taking life to escape suffering is not acceptable in Islam. The Prophet Mohammad said: “