Mercy-Killing Debate
By Lin Yanqin, TODAY | Posted: 06 November 2008 1259 hrs

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SINGAPORE: It would be a mistake to see euthanasia, voluntary or otherwise, as an act that affects only the individual patient and their families, said the National Council of Churches of Singapore (NCCS).

Days after the Archbishop of Singapore condemned euthanasia in an open letter to Catholics and priests, the council, too, has joined in the growing public debate in the media, yesterday releasing a strong statement decrying the act of so-called mercy killing.

Legalising and accepting the act, the NCCS warned, would have serious consequences for society, creating a “euthanasia mentality”.

“Death becomes the solution to many social ills. Just as abortion is seen as the answer to ‘problem or unwanted’ pregnancies, so euthanasia becomes the solution to pain and suffering,” said the association of Singapore churches and Christian organisations. This would “very subtly” impress upon the elderly and dying that “it is their ‘duty to die’” and “diminish the value of human life itself”.

The issue of euthanasia was last month highlighted by Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan as an ethical “dilemma” Singaporeans had to confront as the population aged.

The proposed changes to encourage more Singaporeans to make an Advanced Medical Directive (AMD) have been seen, by some, as condoning euthanasia — even though the AMD Act clearly states it does not “condone, authorise or approve abetment of suicide, mercy killing or euthanasia”.

The NCCS said euthanasia, which it described as “societal killing”, would “open the door to serious abuses that would threaten the rights and dignity of persons and society”.

Like the Archbishop’s letter, its statement likened euthanasia to suicide, both — as acts of terminating human life — prohibited by their teachings that consider life sacred. “Human beings do not have the right to die,” the NCCS maintained.

Euthanasia also went against the Hippocratic oath taken by doctors. “The duty of the physician is not merely to ‘minimise suffering’ but always to ‘maximise care’.”

Similarly, society should “care for those who are suffering and those who are dying”, given that “there is strong evidence to suggest that patients whose symptom and pain control has been inadequate often request for euthanasia” — and that such requests usually cease after proper care is administered.

“More funds should therefore be directed at the establishment of hospices, the training of physicians and nurses, and research in palliative medicine and symptom relief techniques,” said the NCCS.

Mr Khaw has already called for more discussion on issues like AMD and palliative care to better care for the dying in Singapore.

Among other things, the ministry is supporting the expansion of hospice care in the community, and extending palliative care to address the needs of the dying person’s relatives.

A scheme to bring palliative care in nursing homes is also being piloted. - TODAY/sh