Q&A: Euthanasia
Euthanasia
Question
What is the Rabbi’s view on euthanasia and medically assisted suicide for a terminally ill patient, from a moral perspective and from a religious perspective?
Does the state have any place speaking about this at all, or should it simply be permitted by law and the choice left in each person’s hands?
And from a practical perspective, are there any harmful consequences if the state removes its hand from the matter, or when the choice is left to us?
Answer
From a moral perspective, I do not see a problem with suicide, even when the person is not ill. From a halakhic-religious perspective, there is a problem with taking a life, even in the case of a sick person. If the person is suffering greatly and cannot function at all, I think this can be justified.
The state is not supposed to intervene in matters between a person and himself. It can, of course, choose not to fund it.