Only a few days ago, the case Marieke Vervoort made headlines: The Belgian Paralympics gold winner had claimed euthanasia at the age of 40 years. She suffered from an incurable and extremely painful muscular disease that confined her to a wheelchair. The decision of the exceptional athlete brought the issue of euthanasia again in the discussion. In Belgium, unlike in Germany, it has been legal since 2002.
Representatives of Christian, Jewish and Muslim faith communities have now noted an increase in such "mercy killings". Especially in the Netherlands, Belgium, Canada, Australia and various US states have increased the number of euthanasia, according to a statement distributed by the chief rabbi of Israel on the document signed in Rome.
There were hospitals in these countries that encouraged certain doctors and medical staff to shut down heart-lung machines in terminally ill patients. It would even encourage families to actively end the lives of end-stage patients by injecting them with poison.
According to Jewish beliefs and that of the other world religions, this means "murder" with the backing of the medical staff, it said in the message.
Euthanasia and suicide are morally and ethically wrong and should be prohibited without exception, according to the authors of the letter. Suicide subsidies would be "completely contrary to the value of human life" and should therefore be considered false.
According to the Vatican News portal, the draft document was drafted by an interfaith group coordinated by the Pontifical Academy for Life. After signing, Rabbi Moshe Dagan presented the document to Pope Francis.