Euthanasia, Assisted Suicide, and the Christian Ethics of the Right to Die

In 1990, 26-year-old Terri Schiavo fell into a persistent vegetative state after suffering cardiac arrest. A fierce highly public battle took place between her parents and her husband, who wanted to disconnect her feeding tube. Terri's husband argued that his wife would not have wanted her life artificially prolonged, with no hope of recovery.

Terri Schiavo's case spurred an emotional nationwide and international heated debate over quality of life, right-to-die and end-of-life issues. The case grew so notorious that the Vatican in Rome challenged American law which allowed for discontinuing food and water in certain circumstances, arguing for the sanctity of human life.

Though the courts sided with her husband, Michael Schiavo, the state legislature passed a bill, known as Terri's law, giving Florida Gov. Jeb Bush authority to prevent the removal of the feeding tube. After much back and forth involving state and federal courts, Terri's feeding tube was eventually removed, ending the long legal struggle over her fate when she died on March 31, 2005 at the age of 41.

So should a person’s death be prolonged or should a person’s life be allowed to end through, “mercy killings” or euthanasia? What about a person who is seeking to euthanize themselves with the aid of a physician? Is allowing such practices merciful or merciless?

What does the Bible have the say about these issues? How can we understand the topic of suicide, euthanasia, and the sanctity of life as Christians?