The author, former Minister of Justice in Germany, focuses on problems arising in the codification of ethical decisions concerning assistance in suicide, as is occurs in the Netherlands. He appreciates the precautions taken in Netherland's law to prevent abuse of the legalization of certain kinds of euthanasia. He states that the declared intention of a dying person to end his or her own life is to be respected. Compassion and sympathy which finally lead to aiding the moribund person in suicide might be understandable although strictly forbidden. This ends up in a conflict which can not be subject to legal statutes but has to be a matter of a very serious decision of conscience. Thus, aid in suicide can not be allowed by law in general. The author claims that the focus on everone's own responsible decision is a genuine position of protestant ethics.

Enthalten in:
Zeitschrift für Evangelische Ethik; 2002/1 Kommentare, Studien, Berichte, Dokumentationen, Diskussionen, Rezensionen, Bibliographie (2002)

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Serie / Reihe: Zeitschrift für Evangelische Ethik

Personen: Schmidt-Jortzig, Edzard

Schlagwörter: Recht Sterben Tod Beratung Seelsorge Christliche Ethik Krankheit Sozialpolitik Sterbehilfe Niederlande Autonomie Gesetzgebung Menschenwürde Selbstmord