Pro-Life Works: German High Court Approves Euthanasia

July 8, 2010

German High Court Approves Euthanasia

John Macias

Intern

On June 25, the Federal Court of Justice in Germany approved the practice of euthanasia when it reversed the conviction of a lawyer who had advised the family of Erika Kuellmer to cease care and allow her to die (LifeSiteNews.com).  The family took the matter into its own hands by severing Kuellmer’s nutrition device after the staff at her care facility declined to do so.  The reason for overturning the conviction was that Kuellmer had previously expressed her “wish not to be kept alive under such circumstances” (yahoonews.com).  The German Minister of Justice commented, “The will freely formulated by a human being must be respected in all circumstances” (LifeSiteNews.com).  This ruling may lead to doctors euthanizing patients even without their consent.

In fact, some cases like this have already been through the courts in the United Kingdom.  In 2008, the British National Health Service approved the Liverpool Care Pathway, which gives medical professionals the authority to determine which patients are likely to survive, and which are going to die and thereby are deemed no longer in need of treatment (LifeSiteNews.com).  This came after a 2005 law, the Mental Capacity Act, which granted doctors the prerogative to cease care and make all decisions regarding care when patients are deemed no longer in the correct state of mind to make choices for themselves.  This has led to a number of cases where families were forced to go to great lengths and even face penalties to try to keep their loved ones alive. 

Clearly, the Mental Capacity Act and Liverpool Care Pathway remove the right of self determination from the patient and the family and give it to the physician.  According to the BBC, “the ruling does not legalize active assisted suicide, which is punishable by up to five years in prison in Germany...The ruling applies to passively assisting death through the removal of artificial life support.  It makes this legal if the patient has given clear consent” (bbc.co.uk).

These are dangerous developments for the Pro-Life movement.  The rulings in Germany and the UK show that we do not value the Lives of the sick and dying.  Terminal patients are seen as a burden on the medical system, and so resources should be directed to better patients.  The Pro-Life movement must continue to stand up for the dignity of all Life, from conception to natural death.