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The STUDIA UNIVERSITATIS BABEŞ-BOLYAI issue article summary
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Abstract:
Beyond Talking at Cross Purposes. From legitimating Euthanasia to its Legitimacy? We have become aware that the supporters and the opponents of euthanasia often are unable to communicate because they use specific languages and rely on different value systems. Therefore, in the essay Beyond Talking at Cross Purposes. From Legitimating Euthanasia to its Legitimacy?, we want to reflect on the argumentation of the supporters of euthanasia and on the human and religious motivations of its opponents. In our opinion, although we might understand some of the arguments of those who are receptive to euthanasia (e.g. the human fear of the own suffering, the compassion for someone else’s pain, the desire of controlling the own life and of self-determination), not all their arguments are equally legitimate (e.g. although it might be justifiable that incurable people want to die because they fear that they are a burden to their relatives and friends, there is no legitimation for a third person or an authority to use euthanasia for economic reasons). However, in our opinion, it is not enough that the opponents of euthanasia (and among them the Church) only provide teachings on the subject. They should also use efficient and concrete measures to give support to those who suffer and who might be tempted to ask for euthanasia. There should be formations for individuals and hospital staffs as well as human and spiritual support for incurable or elderly people and their relatives. In our opinion, if the supporters of the practice and the legalisation of euthanasia listened to the arguments of their opponents and if the latter added to their arguments an efficient support for the sick, their relatives or the hospital staff, there could be a beginning of a fruitful dialogue.
Keywords: Euthanasia, Good death, Suffering, Compassion, Human dignity, Therapeutic insistence.
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