I have considered myself pro-life for as long as I can remember. Even as a little kid I remember carrying signs in silent marches through downtown Atlanta. We were declaring that life begins at conception and that no amount of scientific research has ever proven otherwise. I will always be anti-abortion.
But in order to really consider oneself pro-life doesn't that have to extend into every possible scenario? I still don't completely understand why most conservative, anti-abortionists also support the death penalty...but that's not really the direction I'm headed in here.
Sure, I believe in the right to life. But is it possible that we also have a right to death?
There are currently two patients in my unit who attempted suicide and failed. It's very sad. Tragic. And they are being treated as equally as anyone else. But how long can a nurse and doctor really ignore the fact that the person whose life we are fighting for, didn't want our help in the first place?
And what exactly classifies as life anyway? I remember sitting through a family meeting months ago with the parents of an 18 year old girl and her neurosurgeon. The surgeon basically told the family that although their daughter could not legally be declared brain dead, she had no hope for anything more than a vegetative state.
Is that really life?
I guess I just don't understand how much authority God really wants us to have on the issue. I know that He is the giver, and taker of life. I've got no argument there. But what about when the decision falls into our hands?
And to further complicate the issue, one of the attempted suicide patients mentioned above, committed murder before turning the gun on himself.
Still feeling pro-life? I know I'm not sure.
Is our system really so politically correct that we spend thousands of dollars and immeasurable labor on caring for a person who will likely face the death penalty? And is that justice?
I have no idea.
And fortunately that's not a decision I have to make. Every nurse and doctor I work with took an oath. To protect and preserve life, to do no harm. To do no injustice. To treat all patient's with equality...
But I can't help but be left with questions. Questions that will likely continue to go unanswered.
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2 comments:
I was having the same conversation yesterday with some co-workers who were talking about family and friends that they have seen suffer immense pain through cancer and they were saying that if they ever got to that point of terminal cancer and the quality of life was gone they don't know if they would want to go through it.
If I were the one in the terminal state, I think I know what I would do. I know this is will be so academic and removed from the situation, but maybe it comes down to "how much faith do I have in God's provision for me to suffer with Christ? How much will I rely on him to keep me faithful in spite of the cancer, paralysis, blindness, etc.?"
When it comes to other people, particularly thouse without faith, ... hmm. Seems to me that the murderer still deserves a fair trial.
I think "right to life" means that we have a right to be free from our life being taken. Some will give up that right by taking the life of another... others will give it up by taking it away themselves. Both of those are unfortunate.
But a "right to die" seems to be atheistic to me. That is, it seems to say that ultimately, the individual has the authority over his/her life. In reality and withinn the Christian worldview, God has that authority, not man. Only God should decide when my life is over, and he has clearly said I am never to take it myself. It is still murder if I take it.
So then, what about the death penalty? I would frame the question like this: "Does God ever exercise His authority to terminate a life through a person or governing authority? Or, do the governments that execute do so contrary to God's will?" I haven't studied this enough to speak from conviction, but I have heard people I respect on both sides.
My 2 cents...
Peace to you!
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