Why Is The Roman Catholic Church Against The Practice Euthanasia And Assisted Suicide And In What Circumstances Can The Removal Or Withholding Of Treatment Be Justified?

The teaching against both these practices originates from the fifth of the Ten Commandments, given to Moses on Mount Sinai, which forbids direct and intentional killing as gravely sinful. The Church therefore considers euthanasia and assisted suicide as a murderous act, which is gravely contrary to the dignity of the human person. It believes that God is the author of life, and that only He has the authority to take human life. Roman Catholics believe in the inherent sanctity of human life from the moment of conception until natural death. However, the church thinks the discontinuation of medication procedures that are burdensome, dangerous or disproportionate, is legitimate if the removal or withdrawal of treatment is not a direct intention to end life. Here death is not caused, but the inability to stop it is merely accepted. Similarly, the use of painkillers to alleviate the suffering of the dying is justified even if an unintended consequence of this is death.