Bioethics in Faith and Practice, Volume 3, Number 1

6 Hall ⦁ Biblical Ethics and Assisted Suicide physician’s role as healer.” 8 Therefore, from a secular perspective, physician-assisted suicide would seem to violate the trust between doctor and patient. Potential pressure from insurers to terminate elderly (and unprofitable) patients only complicates the situation. For the Christian doctor, the primary role is to represent Christ through compassionate medical care, not to carry out the work of the Enemy. Some may think prolonging suffering is less merciful than death, but that is an argument that quickly crumbles in our age of potent painkillers and palliative care. It would seem that the millennia-old tradition of physicians preserving life is slowly being eroded. Despite the affirmations of the AMA and the sagely pledge of Hippocrates, “death with dignity” is gaining traction in our public discourse. Dr. “Death” Kevorkian and others have pushed recent assisted suicide legislation, and this is an enormous challenge to the Christian physician. Nonetheless, suicide is not a romantic idea to be celebrated. It is the work of the Enemy, and its victims are a tragic loss to be mourned. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools (Rom. 1:21-22).