The Ethical and Spiritual Implications of Medically Assisted Death

“…response to for those who wish to end their own life? What criteria do we use to determine the theological legitimacy or illegitiamcey of this choice? ”

Team Members/Contributors

Christopher V Levan College Street United Church Contact Me

About this pastoral study project

The Canadian Bill C14 on Medically Assisted Death establishes 4 conditions under which a person could receive medical assistance to die. While not yet passed into law, it will certainly receive Royal Assent when parliament reconvenes in the fall of 2017. It will no longer be against the criminal code to assist someone to end their life.

This law opens the door to a new realm of ethical thinking. Under what circumstances would one argue it is acceptable to end one's life? Who gets to decide about their end and what part does society take in this decision? In equal measure there are considerable spiritual questions to raise: Does this law preclude God's grace? Can we co-operate with God in the ending of life?

Many lobbied for this change to the criminal code, yet there is considerable debate how this law could be applied. For instance, Bill C14 It has been held up by some members of the Senate who object to the second condition (241.2 c ) which states that people must “…have a grievous and irremediable medical condition." ... and that ...“their natural death has become reasonably foreseeable…” Some politicians believe the option to end one's life should be expanded to include those who suffer for chronic psychological conditions.

Some pastors raised an objection to Bill C14 because it stipulates that the petition for medical assistance in dying can only be made as “a voluntary request. ” What do we do if our loved-one is comatose, unconscious or unable to communicate? And in many instances this is precisely the dilemma we will face as we care for aging parents and loved ones.

This project has three aspects: (1) the collection of qualitative and quantitative research on the current best pastoral practice with regard to choice to end life. (2) Establishing a framework of a biblical/ethical discussion of this question within religious settings. (3) Writing new liturgical/ritual responses for the ending of life.

Image Title Year Type Contributor(s) Other Info
Healing Death: Finding the Healing to Live Well into Our Dying 2020 Book Christopher V Levan