"Tough but fair" on euthanasia

The topic of euthanasia employed people in different countries over again. The controversy over the question of whether a people in great suffering must be killed or not, Flame ever again. On today's deal Wednesday evening the guests of the ARD broadcast "hard but fair" with this issue.

The case of Terri Schiavo in 2005 is likely for many still in his memory. Only last week moved the issue to the public again in Italy: On Thursday endorsed the Italian Court of Cassation euthanasia measures for more than 16 years in a coma lying woman. Consequently, the artificial diet of today's 35-year Eluana Englaro be set. She was the victim of a car accident and 1992 at the age of 19 fell into a coma.

In Switzerland take more and more old people without a dangerous condition, the services of euthanasia organizations claim that took place recently, a study by scientists at the University of Zurich and the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW) out. From 1990 to 2000, the euthanasia organization Exit "22 percent mortality candidates who are not in a fatal disease.

EKD: "killing on demand" ethically unjustifiable

The Council of the Evangelical Church in Germany considered it "given the debate on the activities of 'euthanasia organizations and the increasing social insecurity" appropriate for a new guidance on this topic surrendered. The Scriptures, entitled "If people want to die. A guide to the problem of medical assisted suicide" to bear, the EKD on the Tuesday before. Neither a "killing on demand" nor the aid of a doctor in a suicide are ethically justifiable, theologians stress.

The EKD observed that meanwhile machines and mechanisms for suicide publicly presented and would be offered. Over the Internet are so-called "exit bag" acquire a dubious "humane death" from the bag of promises. Among these phenomena could not keep silent EKD, said on Tuesday, so did the Board of Public responsibility to the prepared text.

If people are todkrank - as the Council - it belongs to the essential tasks of the Christian Church, the dignity of dying to ensure the disposal of real life, consolation and hope to donate the suffering and the dying man affectionately to accompany. They knew the EKD the protection of human life and human dignity committed - in all its phases, especially at the edges and borders, writes the chairman of the Council of the EKD, Bishop Wolfgang Huber, in the preface.

Guests at "Tough but fair" debate on the topic

The ARD broadcasts on Wednesday, 19 November at 21:45 the clock "Tough but fair" broadcast on the theme: "The last freedom - how authentic it may regulate the dying?" The guests are: Michael Lesch (actor, who fell ill with cancer), Frank-Ulrich Montgomery (Vice President Bundesärztekammer), Luc Jochimsen (member of the Bundestag for "The Left"), Wolfgang pecking (Catholic priest and death companion) and Julia Kloeckner (Member the Board of the CDU / CSU Bundestag). As always, the audience via phone, fax and e-mail to the discussion.