안락사 어떻게 생각해야 하는가?

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to make a value judgment for taking one's life without one's own consent. I will argue that we should not come to conclude that taking one's life without his concent is permissible if we follow the procedure to terminate one's life. And I will also argue that the euthanasia is permissible, only on the condition that to take one's life is seen as a merciful deed for the sake of one's own dignity. The article consists of three part. In the first part, I will argue that the life is the most important matter, and therefore we must consider the life over the euthanasia. And second part, I will describe the ethical issues which matter for the case of the euthanasia, and I will discuss the resonable basis on taking the life-support device in which the patient sustains. In that matter, no one has fully understood the consequence of that action. Nonetheless, we must face the most difficult time for taking an action because in that moment we realize that we are standing on the situation which there is no way out. Whether we like or not, we must make decision to get us out the dilemma. The third part is the place where I reflect on that issue from the certain perspective which is theological and biological. When I consider the life matter, I take it as a biological. So, I strongly oppose to consider the brain death as a legitimate excuse for the euthanasia. The reader will see how I approach to the life and death, and how I relate them to the idea of God. I do not oppose the notion of the mercy killing at all. But I argue that the euthanasia might be allowed, if and only if the euthanasia is to be seen as a sacred deed, not only for the sake of the patient and his family, but for the sake of God. For the case of the euthanasia, the most important thing is whether or not, it is the sacred deed for the eyes of God. In other words,what matters is the christian faith on God, when we decide to take off a life support device.