SUICIDE, ASSISTED SUICIDE, ACTIVE EUTHANASIA

appropriate role of the individual in decision making. Clarification of these prior issues will determine what precedents in Jewish law will be given priority.

HUMAN DIGNITY AND THE SANCTITY OF HUMAN LIFE

Having set out a methodological framework, I wish to proceed with a consideration of the permissibility of suicide, assisted suicide and active voluntary euthanasia within a covenantal reflection on halakhah. This paper challenges the prevailing halakhic opinion opposing suicide, assisted suicide and active voluntary euthanasia.” It is my conclusion that under certain conditions, with appropriate safeguards, terminally ill patients can morally take their own life, be aided to take their own life, or waive their right not to be killed. The doctrine of the sanctity of human life is rooted theologically in the concept that humankind was created b’tzelem elohim(in the image of God ). Human dignity and worth are connected to the concept of imitateo Dei and biological life may be forfeited for good and sufficient reasons.”

For example, Maimonides identifies humankind’s uniqueness and the God -like quality as residing in the superior intelligence of the human soul:

The vital principle of all flesh is the form which God has

given it. The superior intelligence in the human soul is

the specific form of the mentally normal human being.

To this form the Torah refers in the text,"Let us make

a human being in Our image and after Our likeness"

(Gen.1:26). This means that the human being should

have a form that knows... Nor does(this) refer to the

vital principle in every animal by which it eats drinks,

reproduces, feels and broods. It is the intellect which is

the human soul’s specific form. And to this specific form

of the soul the Scripture phrase"In Our image, after Our

likeness" alludes.”

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