SUICIDE, ASSISTED SUICIDE, ACTIVE EUTHANASIA A Halakhic Inquiry

Peter Knobel

This paper deals with an excruciatingly difficult moral problem, the circumstances under which killing is permitted and who may terminate a human life." Framed slightly differently, we have the following issues: In the case of a terminally ill person or one who is suffering severe and unremitting pain, would suicide, assisted suicide or voluntary active euthanasia be morally permissible? If so, under what circumstances?’ The question has more than theoretical interest. Our acts and attitudes will help shape the social matrix of ethical decision making. Our goal is to give advice to Jewish ethicists, health care professionals, patients and their loved ones. In matters of life and death we must exhibit care that we do not undermine precisely the values we hope to support, namely the dignity and sanctity of human life.>

While speaking in general terms, it is essential to remember that our subjects are real people and the decisions that they must make about their lives, those they love and those for whom they care. In challenging established societal norms which seek to protect individual human life, one could begin a process which radically alters the way in which society treats the weak and the vulnerable.* If we propose an attitudinal shift in the"hard cases" do we change the attitude of individuals and society so as to encourage suicide and lead from a situation where people willingly waive their right not to be killed, under severely limited circumstances, to involuntary active euthanasia based on social worth?.’

Even naming the action has moral weight. Is suicide the moral equivalent of self-murder, or self-delivery, or voluntary? Is assisted suicide the moral equivalent of being an accomplice to murder, or being an agent of compassion who assists in voluntary death? Is voluntary active euthanasia the equivalent of murder or is it justifiable homicide?’

Since this is meant to be a halakhic discussion, it is important to ask what texts may be legitimately used to inform the discussion? Phrased slightly differently, the question is what counts as part of the