Euthanasia, Meaning, Causes and Effects on Humanity: The Religio-Biblical Condemnation

Abstract

Euthanasia, also known as mercy killing, is, according to Merriam-Webster Learner’s Dictionary, “killing someone who is very sick or injured in order to prevent any more suffering.” Again, when a doctor helps a patient to end his life, this is called physician-assisted suicide. The Jehovah's Witnesses (2026) believes that "what the Bible says about life and death offers a balanced perspective. Causing death is unacceptable, but there is no requirement to go to desperate lengths to prolong life during the dying process. In God’s eyes, life is very precious. For this reason, God condemns both taking the life of another and taking one’s own life" (Exodus 20:13; 1 John 3:15). Scholars argue that there are some obvious causes of euthanasia but, its effects to humanity is so condemnable in different religions and the Holy Bible that it has aroused the interest of this writer to publish this article. Intended to analyze the causes, effects of euthanasia and the condemnation it has received, it is based on data collected from secondary sources which included journal and magazine articles, books and Internet resources. The data was analyzed using descriptive method of analysis. The article concluded that, no matter the circumstances, euthanasia or physician-assisted killing should be done away with.