Case Study Analysis: George's Euthanasia Decision - Christian View

This case study analyzes George's decision to pursue euthanasia in light of his suffering from a terminal illness, viewed through a Christian worldview. The paper begins by outlining key tenets of Christian belief, including the nature of God, the world, human beings, death, and morality. It then explores George's interpretation of his suffering, his hope for resurrection, and the value he places on life. The core of the analysis examines how Christianity would approach George's choice, discussing the moral justification of euthanasia and contrasting it with the Christian emphasis on the sanctity of life. The study considers the impact of such decisions on the community and emphasizes the importance of palliative care. Ultimately, the paper concludes that George should not opt for euthanasia as it contradicts Christian teachings on the value of life and the potential for finding meaning even in suffering, while palliative care can offer a better alternative.

CASE STUDY ANALYSIS ON DEATH AND DYING CASE
CASE STUDY ANALYSIS ON DEATH AND DYING CASE
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Abstract
The Christian worldview provides the basis for the moral values and actions taken that reflects
moral values. The worldview offers holistic approach from which human beings gains
knowledge and are able to make decisions. The Christian worldview gives a realisation of the
reality and an interpretation of the God’s character that directs humans in taking morally correct
decisions. The paper analyses the case study of George, who confronts an enormous devastation
in his life that directed him in taking the decision of euthanasia and the main purpose of the
paper is to analyse his decision on the Christian point of view and also throws light on what
should be ethical and morally right.

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Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................4
Christianity......................................................................................................................................5
What is the nature of the world around us?.................................................................................5
What is a human being?...................................................................................................................5
What happens to a person at death?.............................................................................................6
Why is it possible to know anything at all?.................................................................................6
How do we know what is right and wrong?................................................................................6
What is the meaning of human history?......................................................................................6
Overview of George’s Situation from the Christian Perspective:...................................................7
George’s interpretation of his suffering based on the fallenness of the world............................7
Georges perspective on hope of Resurrection.............................................................................7
The value of the life as a person for George................................................................................8
How Christianity would treat the idea of George opting for euthanasia?...................................8
How would Christianity morally justify the decision that George makes?.................................9
My own personal view.................................................................................................................9
Conclusion:....................................................................................................................................10

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Introduction
From the Christian point of view, the image of God is the image of human life, and
humans shouldn't end it. Human beings are component of the society that is linked to each other
in the Christian worldview. Humans not self-sufficient. They influence others by the choices
they create. There is a high chance of individuals feeling compelled to access assisted suicide or
euthanasia if the law is amended. The assessment of the value and integrity of the individual to
be murdered is inconsistent, so arguments relying on performance of lives are entirely
meaningless. Nobody should either ask for euthanasia or think themselves as worthless. The case
study on George focusses on his choice of ending life or euthanasia due to the sufferings he has
been put into due to his destiny. The paper summarises on George’s point of view on the practice
of euthanasia from Christian perspective.

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Christianity
what is prime reality?
The primary element of Christian realism is God. The God is the creator of the universe,
human beings and everything. God is eternal, holy, unchangeable, powerful, judgemental,
incredible, complex, and exceptionally glorious (Richmond 2014). God is unique and there is no
one who can replace God. God is very personal, he desires to be known and makes himself
known and it is the most important aspect in the Christian worldview (Koodamara et al., 2018).
What is the nature of the world around us?
God has created Universe through his commands and whatever he spoke, came into
existence and in reality. Creation flowed from his mouth that created Universe in an orderly
manner and also with a structure and clarity (Koodamara et al., 2018). God is everyday unfolding
the eternal determinations. Therefore, the world is systematic and well-ordered that has an
impact on humans and since, the world is exposed, the choices that human makes are significant
and meaningful and has undying consequences for good or bad (Richmond 2014).
What is a human being?
Humans are created in the God’s image and considering this concept, humans are like
God. All human beings has dignity and Christian who shudder at abortion, abuse, murder and
killing has fallen from the elevation of their dignity and considered a sin against the creator. In
spite of their fall from dignity into sin, humans still have the ability to know the world around
them, to know each other and through grace of the God, they are able to know God (Bialecki &
Daswani, 2015).
What happens to a person at death?

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Each individual who dies, either exists eternally in the paradise of eternal relationship
with God or, lives perpetually separated distant from God. After death, every person exists and
lives further than the grave. They live either with God or they live without God (Cymbala, 2018).
Why is it possible to know anything at all?
Humans have the capacity to know God and the whole world around them. Through the
grace of the God, humans can know God and gain knowledge from him. Since, God knows
everything and has enormous knowledge within himself, God grant human beings knowledge.
The knowable nature of God is revealed either by general revelation through the creator order or
by special revelation through his commands and wards and his son, Jesus Christ.
How do we know what is right and wrong?
The choice of right and wrong in the Christian worldview is based on ethics which is the
reflection of God’s character. Therefore, one can find the ultimate truth and morality that would
help them in making decisions of their life and choose between what is correct and what should
be done based on ethical judgement.
What is the meaning of human history?
The next element is the human history that unfolds or reveals God’s eternal purposes.
History of human life relates to a meaningful structure with a beginning, middle and an end.
History should not be considered worthless because of the God’s sovereignty over mankind
activities that depicts there is a pointed track which proves all histories to be heading towards
(Bialecki & Daswani, 2015). The greatness of God is the most powerful and glorious tenet in the
Christian worldview.

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Overview of George’s Situation from the Christian Perspective:
George’s interpretation of his suffering based on the fallenness of the world
George is suffering from a disease which is not curable. He is completely aware of the
fact and being a believer of the bible, George’s interpretation of his suffering is based on the
fallenness of the world. According to the Bible, sufferings entered the earth when the evil
entered the creation of God through the rebellion of some of God’s creatures (Larson, 2017). The
two creatures created by god who are responsible for bringing suffering into earth include human
being s and first angels. When human beings lost their innocence by disobeying god and
committing original sin, futility and pain entered into the basic human experience which in turn,
brought suffering in human life (Quinlan, 2018). Being a Christian, George believes that he is
suffering from the illness due to the act performed b his ancestors. He also believes that suffering
is not an intrinsically an everlasting necessary feature of reality, as in some renderings of the
Eastern notion of Yin and Yang. Rather, all pain and suffering are results of fallenness.
Georges perspective on hope of Resurrection
The bible interprets suffering to be the path that makes way for an individual for a new
life. The holy book states that god has caused every individual to take birth again to a living
hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. In spite of the fact that suffering as
well as death is wrong, the concept of hope and resurrection in Bible, states that God
miraculously brings humans back to him by using suffering and death. Thus spiritual death of
self is the only way to go back to god and physical death is the process of going back to paradise
(Francis, McKenna & Sahin, 2019). The Bible states that God is in the business of death as well
as resurrection. This pattern of life, suffering and death has been created by god in order to

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ensure that Human being can reach closer to him. Thus the concept of hope and resurrection
helps sufferers like George to cope up with the physical and mental pain of leading life with
disease like ALS. George perspective of hope of Resurrection makes him believes that his
suffering is just a temporary phenomenon and a process which god has created to bring George
back to him.
The value of the life as a person for George
In Christian point of view, life is considered to be a gift from the God. Adam had become
a living being by the breath of the God and humans will get perished if God withdraw his breath.
Therefore, the life of human beings belongs to go and human does not possess absolute
autonomy over their own lives but are stewards of the life given to them by God (Koodamara et
al., 2018). As a Christian, George believes that human life possess values as well as dignity since
men as well as women are made in the image of God. Human being in his or her life span can
add value to their life by showing compassion to other human beings and creatures of the earth.
The value of life does not fade away in case an individual is suffering from any disease or
disability. Rather it fades away in case a human being loses his or her compassionate nature and
love for God.
How Christianity would treat the idea of George opting for euthanasia?
According to the Bible considering the fact that Human life bears the image of the God, it
should not be terminated at any point of time and under any circumstances. As per the Christian
overview, human beings is a part of a community and thus no one is autonomous. Thus the
decision of Euthanasia taken by an individual does definitely impose impact on the other
members of the community (Anthony & Sterkens, 2019). The historic commitment comprising
one of the clauses is: “I will neither give a deadly drug to anybody who asked for it, nor will I

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make a suggestion to this effect.” Considering the fact that Euthanasia is the deliberate act of
terminating life, Christian treats the concept of Euthanasia as a sin and there will be a great risk
in people feeling pressured in retrieving assisted suicide or euthanasia (De Villiers, 2016).
How would Christianity morally justify the decision that George makes?
While majority of the individuals of the Christian community are against Euthanasia,
some of the features of Christianity suggest the existence of obligations against the general view
of euthanasia (Ayuba, 2016). For instance, the Bible teaches individuals to respect each and
every human being. Respecting an individual automatically indicates that one should respect
their decisions as well, be it their decision of ending their own life. It is taught to Christians that
the rational decisions of human beings must be accepted in order to refuse burdensome and futile
treatment.
My own personal view
As a healthcare service provider, I strongly believe that the George’s decision of
undergoing Euthanasia will impose negative impact on both him and the community. I
personally feel that Euthanasia weakens the respect of society for the sanctity of life. Accepting
Euthanasia will lead to accept the fact that the lives of disabled and sick people are less worthy
than others. In George’s case, proper palliative care has the potential to make Euthanasia
unnecessary.

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Conclusion:
From the above discussion, it can be concluded that George should not opt for Euthanasia
since through proper palliative care he will be able to lead a peaceful life. According to the Bible
considering the fact that Human life bears the image of the God, it should not be terminated at
any point of time and under any circumstances. The value of life does not fade away in case an
individual is suffering from any disease or disability. Rather it fades away in case a human being
loses his or her compassionate nature and love for God.

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Reference List
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attitude of Christian, Muslim and Hindu students in India concerning death penalty,
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to Life and its Limitations (pp. 13-63). Springer, Cham.
Atkins, C. D., & Burnett, H. (2017). Moral Reasoning about Ending Life Revisited: Influences of
Religiosity and Resilience. Michigan Academician, 44(3), 239-255.
Ayuba, M. A. (2016). Euthanasia: A Muslim's perspective. Scriptura, 115, 1-13.
Bialecki, J., & Daswani, G. (2015). What is an individual? The view from Christianity. HAU:
Journal of Ethnographic Theory, 5(1), 271-294.
Cymbala, J. (2018). Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire: What Happens When God's Spirit Invades the
Hearts of His People. Zondervan.
De Villiers, D. E. (2016). May Christians request medically assisted suicide and
euthanasia?. HTS Theological Studies, 72(4), 1-9.
Francis, L. J., McKenna, U., & Sahin, A. (2019). Religion, Human Rights and Matters of Life
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Koodamara, N. K., Prabhu, N., Thomas, B., & Afza, N. (2018). Euthanasia: Indias major
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