Two headlines about euthanasia in Canada recently caught my eye. One was about Jolene Van Alstine, a 45-year-old native of Saskatchewan suffering from a rare, but treatable, parathyroid disease that causes intense bone pain, among other things. There were no surgeons in Saskatchewan who were able to perform the required surgery, so she needed a referral from an endocrinologist in Saskatchewan; however, none of them were willing to take her on as a new patient. Various government officials that she contacted recommended Canada’s Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) program as a “solution,” even though her condition is not terminal. And best of all, the government would cover the cost!
Jolene was ready to end her life on January 7, but help and hope came from an unexpected source: Radio host Glenn Beck offered to cover all costs related to her care, including her transfer to the U.S. and whatever medical procedures might be necessary for her recovery. At last report, surgeons in Tampa, Ontario, and Saskatchewan had agreed on an alternative strategy involving high doses of calcium and vitamin D as a first step. Jolene and Glenn Beck remain in touch.
A second headline was about a story with a very different, and very disturbing, ending. An 80-something Canadian woman known as “Mrs. B” had initially requested euthanasia following her heart surgery (with complications), but then changed her mind; she cited her religious beliefs and requested admission to hospice, which was denied. Mrs. B’s first MAiD assessor “had warned of coercion, sudden changes in her wishes, and caregiver burnout as possible risks.” Although there were nursing visits following Mrs. B’s heart surgery, her primary caregiver was her husband, who requested a second assessment under the MAiD program, and this second assessor deemed Mrs. B “eligible” for euthanasia, overriding the concerns expressed by the first assessor. At this point, the first assessor then attempted to meet with Mrs. B again, but the request was refused on the grounds of “clinical circumstances necessitating same-day euthanasia.” A third assessor confirmed the second assessor’s “recommendation,” so Mrs. B’s life was taken “against her will,” in the words of Rachael Thomas, a Conservative member of Parliament in Canada. “That’s called murder,” she wrote.
One of the things that I find most disturbing about this story is that the first MAiD assessor’s attempt to meet a second time with Mrs. B was denied for bureaucratic reasons. Let me repeat from the previous paragraph: “clinical circumstances necessitating same-day euthanasia.” And what of Mrs. B’s husband, who, according to various reports, “pushed” for his wife to consent to euthanasia after their request for hospice and palliative care was denied? One can easily understand the difficulty an 80-something man would have, trying to care for his wife after complications following her heart surgery; he obviously needed help, which was denied. I can see how the very presence of an option like MAiD could be too tempting to pass up, and whether they had any children who could help is unknown. This is not meant to condone what the husband allowed, but to understand it.
Canada’s MAiD program allows a nurse practitioner or physician to actively end a person’s life by directly administering medication; this is a form of euthanasia. Alternatively, a nurse practitioner or physician can prescribe the person a “substance” to end his or her life, which is known as physician-assisted suicide. In actual fact, the vast majority of deaths under Canada’s MAiD program are euthanasia. As mentioned earlier, under this program it is “free;” that, combined with the fact that a physician or nurse can “take care of it,” makes it a comparatively “easy” option.
In the U.S., active euthanasia is illegal, thankfully; however, physician-assisted suicide is legal in ten states and D.C. Also thankfully, federal law does not permit the federal government to subsidize assisted suicide. On the other hand, Medi-Cal (CA’s version of Medicaid) covers the cost; I haven’t researched the other nine states where physician-assisted suicide is legal in terms of whether those states’ governments subsidize the cost.
I should add here that there is a big difference between active and passive euthanasia. DNRs (Do Not Resuscitate directives) are an example of the second type. My wife and I believe that passive euthanasia is Scripturally permissible, but active euthanasia is not. In fact, for most of recorded history, the kinds of extension-of-life options that are available now were not available. However, I know, and know of, plenty of people who have gone to great lengths to extend life in ways that were not available even 100 years ago.
One thing that helps in these complex issues is a Biblical understanding of suffering. Here are two verses that directly link suffering and hope: “Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” (Romans 5:3,4) Here’s another verse about suffering, which is part of a passage about the hope for all of creation: “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” (Romans 8:18)
I don’t claim to have all of the answers to end-of-life and extension-of-life issues. In the end, each of us who claims the Name of Christ must ask for wisdom and make decisions about such matters before Him.
To the Remnant 
Thanks for the post, Keith. Although I’m not in favor of euthanasia, I can “understand” the rationale of someone who has an irreversible terminal disease and who is in acute pain. But as you point out, it will open the door to all kinds of “abuses.”
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Thanks, Tom. I found myself wrestling with how to express what I thought about Mrs. B’s husband: to be able to understand what he did and yet not condone it is where I landed. My initial reaction was much stronger than that. It won’t surprise me if at some point, we have a federal “program” very similar to Canada’s.
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I have had times where I was in so much pain, all I could think about was how to get out of it, and all I could pray was, “Make it stop! Make it stop! Make it stop!!!” I can understand how people can rationalize their position. I can also understand how some get addicted to the opioids that effectively stop the pain. So, in these matters, I am VERY slow to judge – if I judge at all. Sometimes prayer is all I can offer, but I believe prayer can be powerful. And it’s good to know God is compassionate and gracious.
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Annie, I appreciate your perspective on pain and prayer.
I believe that Canada’s MAiD program makes it far too easy to euthanize people, for two reasons: one, it’s free, and two, a physician or nurse will do it for you. At the same time, and ultimately, only the Lord can judge rightly–and He will.
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Yes, I can sympathize with those suffering intense and prolonged pain.
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Keith, this seems to be a problem that I tend to think about more as I grow older and more prone to illness, life expectancy has been increasing in just the past few decades. I know some Chinese-American Christians who are conservative on moral and political issues who favor euthanasia under certain circumstances. Mostly they do not want to be a burden on their children and grandchildren or on society. However they would not favor young or middle age individuals who do NOT have a terminal condition ending their lives. May the Lord give us wisdom on thinking about end of life issues.
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Tony, you’re right about life expectancy. That’s why I mentioned extension-of-life options that didn’t use to be available. At my largely-Asian church, we have several doctors, and they are very focused on extending life for their patients–and others at our church through prayer–for as long as possible. For myself, as I also mentioned, I have no problem with passive euthanasia such as a DNR; however, I have a big problem with active euthanasia, such as that allowed by Canada’s MAiD program. And now with Mrs. B, we have seen how easy it is for someone to take advantage of this option and go against a patient’s wishes.
As you said, may the Lord give us wisdom in this area. And as always, I appreciate your comment!
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This is a sad sign of the degeneration in society today as it rejects God…
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Thank you, Brother; so true.
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Agreed
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Very though provoking piece, Keith. As for the difference between active and passive euthanasia – or active and passive life extension – I agree with what Dr. James Dobson said, that there’s a difference between extending life and prolonging death.
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Thanks, Annie; that’s a good distinction. I wasn’t familiar with it, but I looked it up. I like Joni Eareckson Tada’s conclusion that if a person is dying, then passive euthanasia is Biblically permissible. “Dying” is defined as a person’s having a relatively short estimated time remaining, as determined by medical professionals. (Note the plural in that last word.) In addition, of course, if the dying person has expressed a desire not to have “aggressive” measures taken to extend his or her life, this also makes the decision much easier for the family.
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ALL life comes from and is taken by the one who created us Almighty God. Man has long in disobedience proceeded to take on power they have no right to do, and your (Romans 5:3,4), and (Romans 8:1) clarify that suffering is a part of this life we encounter on the way to eternity. Sadly the service offered to many now days known as Hospice was at one time there for natural end of life, but now they are given the power to start the process of the end of life. I speak from experience as I am viewing this at a facility where way too many are dying needlessly.
It is vital as a Christian to be familiar as to what Pharmakeia is, and the danger of it biblically speaking!
Great informative article. Thank you for shedding a light on this subject.
Be Blessed
Julia
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Thank you. Canada’s MAiD program is not hospice, and I have had relatives with good experience under hospice care in the U.S. However, I understand what you’re saying about how that system can be abused. I’m thankful that you are a kind of “watchdog” (pun intended) who can see what is happening at the facility you mentioned.
Blessings to you, Julia.
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🙂 Yes Watchdog in a world where we are to be a light.
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⌚🐶🌏🕯😀
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Very well said. 🙂
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