[Biblemat] Turning off the life supports (question/answer)

[Don Martin]

Hello Mary,

Thank you so much for your question and for making use of Bible
Questions. Please do so again. http://www.biblequestions.org  Please
check out Bible Truths http://www.bibletruths.net  Go to the archives
section of these sites for material and also go to the archives search page
and type in any subject or word you wish to explore. New material is
constantly being added to both sites. Any help you can give us in telling
others of these sites will be greatly appreciated.

If you are interested in really learning more about the Bible, there is an
online Bible study course located in Bible Truths. While on the home page,
scroll down and enter.  While on the Map Site Page, click on "Online Bible
Study Course" in the table.  Click on http://www.bibletruths.net to go
there.

You asked:

My mother recently passed away, she was suffering and was being kept
alive by machines only, I had to make a decision, I selected to turn off the
machines and let her pass on, did I do the right thing, I keep questioning
myself, please help

Reply:

We are sincerely sorry to hear of the passing of your mother and especially
of the attendant situation that placed you in a position that often produces
guilt.  Let me say that I cannot comment on whether or not you did the right
thing, not knowing all the medical particulars.  However, I do believe that
we have a right to elect not to be artificially supported when for all
appearces, life has already ceased.  I say this because medical science has
now reached the point of artificially simulating life by machine assistance.
If you mother had entered such a state, the think there was the viable
option of "turning off the machines."  The difficulty is in knowing when
such a state has been entered.  We must often rely on the attending
physicians and our common sense.  It is apparent that you believe such a
condition had been reached and you responded accordingly.  My advice to
you is to move on in life.  You decision was very difficult and it is only
natural to experience some guilt.  I shall insert below a balance answer
from a previously asked and answered question from the archives of Bible
Questions.  Be sure to also take advantage of the many articles in
www.bibletruths.net

    Question:  How about assisted-suicide?

    Answer:  Some current issues include abortion, euthanasia, and
assisted-suicide (another name for euthanasia).  Our good question concerns
assisted-suicide.  I understand eight people have died in Oregon with help
from doctors under Oregon's assisted-suicide law since the law took effect
October of 1997.  Doctor's prescribed lethal drugs to the eight patients
which resulted in their death.

   Murder is forbidden.  The scriptures forbid murder.  This is the meaning
of Exodus 20: 13, "Thou shalt not kill" (cf. Rom. 13: 9).  Those who thus
take human life should forfeit their own life (Gen. 9: 6).  The verse is
plain as well as the reason: "whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his
blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man."

   Suicide, self-murder, is prohibited.   If taking the life of another is
forbidden since man is made in the image of God, there is no exception for
"mercy killing", would not taking one's own life be wrong for the same
reason?  If now, why not?  In Acts chapter sixteen, we read of a man who
was going to murder himself (Acts 16: 27, see vss. 16-34).  Notice what
was told him: "But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, do thyself no harm;
for we are all here" (vs. 28).

    Beloved, Please understand I am not addressing the artificial sustaining
of life purely by life-support machines and the choice to cease such
suspension.  Our question regards assisted-suicide.  The example
accompanying the question concerns doctors injecting a lethal dose into the
person.  If murder and suicide are wrong, would not assisted-suicide be
wrong?   Our heart goes out to people who have terminally ill loved ones
who are suffering.   However, we can not endorse assisted-suicide.  This
issue will become more common, I predict.

Thanks again for your good question and for your interest in spiritual
matters. I recommend that you print out this email for future reference
(web addresses, etc.). You may print out any material you desire in both
Bible Questions and Bible Truths (see the copyright provision at the bottom
of the home page in Bible Truths).

Cordially,
Don Martin