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Euthanasia

The article discusses euthanasia in France, highlighting the ethical, legal and religious tensions, as well as the importance of end-of-life choices in light of biblical beliefs.

26 min euthanasia Claeys-Leonetti law end of life ethics 24 verses 12 books

Further information

Introduction

In France, the question of euthanasia is governed by law and has been the subject of ethical and political debate for several decades. At present, active euthanasia, that is, a doctor deliberately causing the death of a patient, remains prohibited. On the other hand, the Claeys-Leonetti law, adopted in 2016, provides a legal framework for accompanying the end of life with respect for human dignity.

This law notably authorizes passive euthanasia, which consists of stopping treatments deemed useless or disproportionate when they merely prolong life artificially. It also allows deep and continuous sedation until death, in cases where the patient's suffering is resistant to any other treatment. Patients may draft advance directives to express their wishes in the event of incapacity, and appoint a trusted person to represent them.

Since 2023, the debate on assisted dying has taken on a new dimension. The Citizens' Convention on the end of life, convened on the government's initiative, recommended a move toward a regulated legalization of active assisted dying. In May 2025, a bill was adopted at first reading in the National Assembly. This text provides that people suffering from a serious and incurable illness with a life-threatening prognosis may receive assistance in dying. This assistance would be strictly supervised by medical teams, and accompanied by a strengthening of palliative care as well as the creation of care homes for the dying.

It is important to distinguish between the different practices related to the end of life. Passive euthanasia, already authorized, consists of letting a person die by stopping care. Deep sedation is also legal and puts the patient to sleep until death in order to relieve their suffering. On the other hand, assisted suicide, in which the patient brings about their own death with a doctor's help, remains prohibited, although it is at the heart of current discussions.

This subject raises major ethical issues: respect for individual freedom, dignity in the face of suffering, but also the risks of abuses, of social or family pressure, and the importance of equitable access to palliative care throughout the country.

One element that is particularly important to consider, in our view, concerns the reference to biblical texts on this subject.

To broaden the debate

It is relevant to examine what the Bible says about physical death, given that many Christians regard this work as the Word of God. A first analysis on the theme of death has already been offered in the appendix ANN110 : Death according to biblical teachings.

In our analysis, the central question remains that of post-mortem events, a subject of considerable debate. For this study, we will rely on the Bible as the primary source and will explicitly present its statements concerning the existence of some form of life after death.

According to biblical teachings, human beings prepare their future in the life after death through their earthly choices. The expressions "kingdom of God" or "kingdom of heaven", frequently used in the Gospel according to Matthew, are used by Jesus the Messiah to refer to this spiritual prospect. Thus, the decisions made during one's lifetime influence the destiny of each person.

According to the teachings of Jesus the Messiah, it appears that a person's destiny is determined at the moment of death. However, it remains possible, until the last minute of earthly life, to change this destiny.

The Gospels recount the case of a man condemned to crucifixion alongside Jesus the Messiah. Of the two robbers, one turns to Jesus the Messiah with a repentant heart. He then receives this word full of promise, reported in Luke 23.43: "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise." The other, on the contrary, remains closed to the call of salvation. He rejects Jesus the Messiah's offer of grace, and by this refusal he deprives himself of entry into the kingdom of God.

In this perspective, where the possibility of being saved at the last moment exists, death takes on major importance. It is not merely a matter of physical disappearance. Indeed, for the person who is already saved, the situation remains unchanged. However, depriving someone who is not yet saved of this final opportunity represents a significant responsibility with potentially serious consequences.

Imagine for a moment that men, moved by compassion and unwilling to bear the sight of this man nailed to his cross, offered him a swift and painless way out to cut short his ordeal. He would have been lost for eternity!

As long as life persists, there is a possibility of hope, not necessarily to continue one's earthly existence, but to transform one's eternity. This robber, in a few moments of lucidity and faith, went from condemnation to the promise of paradise.

This aspect of the problem is of particular importance. The legislator takes physical death into account and seeks to reduce the suffering of patients at the end of life, but overlooks a fundamental element: the notion of eternity.

The French law on euthanasia

France has reached a historic turning point regarding the end of life with the adoption in May 2025 of a new law on assisted dying, which legalizes, under certain conditions, assisted suicide and euthanasia.

What the new law provides

The law rests on two components:

Strengthening palliative care: Creation of care homes, pediatric units, mobile teams, and a ten-year plan funded with 2.7 billion euros.

Legalization of assisted dying: The patient may request active assistance in dying, subject to strict criteria.

Conditions for receiving assisted dying

The patient must be an adult and a stable resident of France, suffer from a serious and incurable illness with a life-threatening prognosis, endure constant and unbearable suffering despite treatment, and be able to give free and informed consent.

Medical procedure

The request is assessed by three doctors, a period of reflection is required, the patient may withdraw at any time, the act may be carried out at home, in hospital or in a suitable place, and the patient must take the lethal substance themselves, except in cases of physical incapacity.

Conscience clause

Doctors may refuse to take part, but must refer the patient to a colleague. Any unjustified obstruction may be penalized.

This text, adopted by the National Assembly, must still be examined by the Senate. If it is approved, it will be one of the most significant social reforms since same-sex marriage ("Marriage for All") in 2013.

What does the Bible say?

The question of euthanasia is not addressed explicitly in the biblical texts. However, it is sometimes likened to the notions of suicide or homicide. This study sets out to analyze the information found in the Bible on this subject.

Here, then, is a biblical reflection in three parts on delicate subjects: euthanasia, suicide, and murder. Each raises profound questions about life, suffering, and human responsibility.

Euthanasia: compassion or transgression?

The Bible does not speak explicitly of euthanasia, but it affirms that God is the master of life and death:

"You shall not murder" — Exodus 20.13

"In his hand is the life of every living thing" — Job 12.10

"Do not be a fool: why should you die before your time?" — Ecclesiastes 7.17

Although death may be imminent, deliberately inducing the end of life is generally not considered consistent with religious doctrine. However, the biblical texts do not advocate aggressive medical treatment: there is no obligation to prolong suffering needlessly, and ceasing artificial support does not constitute euthanasia, but simply allows the natural course of the end-of-life process.

Conclusion: Life is sacred, even in suffering. But compassion does not justify the act of giving death.

Suicide: human despair, divine hope

The Bible mentions several suicides (Saul, Ahithophel, Judas), but without always explicitly condemning them. Yet it insists on the value of life:

"Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit?" — 1 Corinthians 6.19-20

"There will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous" — Acts 24.15

Suicide is seen as a grave error, but not an unforgivable sin. God understands mental distress and offers consolation and the hope of resurrection.

Conclusion: Suicide is a tragedy, but divine grace can still reach those who have sunk into despair.

Several biblical figures took their own lives, often in contexts of despair or honor:

Judas Iscariot: After betraying Jesus, he hangs himself (Matthew 27.5).

Saul and his armor-bearer: They take their own lives after a military defeat (1 Samuel 31.4-6; 1 Chronicles 10.4-5).

Ahithophel: He hangs himself after his counsel is not followed (2 Samuel 17.23).

Zimri: He ends his life by setting fire to the palace (1 Kings 16.18).

Samson: He dies while destroying the temple of the Philistines, an act seen as sacrificial (Judges 16.26-30).

The Bible does not explicitly condemn suicide in these accounts, but it values faith, repentance and trust in God in times of distress. Suicide is often presented as an act of despair, loss of faith or sacrifice, but never as a recommended path.

Murder: the ultimate transgression

Murder is clearly and firmly condemned throughout the Bible:

"You shall not murder" — Exodus 20.13

"Whoever sheds human blood, by humans shall their blood be shed" — Genesis 9.6

"Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer" — 1 John 3.15

Even hatred is equated with murder in the New Testament (Matthew 5.21-22). Violence, even when legal or social, is seen as an offense against God.

Conclusion: Murder is a direct violation of the divine will. It destroys not only a life, but also the image of God in man.

Is euthanasia comparable to suicide or murder according to the Bible?

The Bible does not deal directly with modern euthanasia, but it offers clear principles on the value of life, the sovereignty of God, and respect for the human body. To answer the question: is euthanasia comparable to suicide or murder according to the Bible? Here is an analysis based on the biblical texts and Christian interpretations.

Euthanasia: between suicide and murder?

Euthanasia is often defined as assisted suicide or a death caused by another person, which places it at the crossroads of the two concepts.

Comparable to suicide?

Yes, if the person requests or brings about their own death, even with medical assistance.

The Bible teaches that "man is not master of his life or his death" (Ecclesiastes 8.8).

Suicide is seen as an act of despair or rebellion, a murder against oneself.

Comparable to murder?

Yes, if another person causes the death, even with consent.

"You shall not murder" — Exodus 20.13

"Whoever sheds human blood, by humans shall their blood be shed" — Genesis 9.6

According to some theologians, euthanasia is a moral transgression, because it violates the principle of the sanctity of human life, which God alone can give or take back.

Nuance: compassion and suffering

It is important to note that the Bible does not call for aggressive medical treatment. Suspending a treatment that only prolongs suffering is not considered murder, but accompaniment toward a natural death.

Conclusion

In the biblical perspective, certain acts related to the end of life or to violence are interpreted according to clear theological principles:

Euthanasia is often likened to suicide or murder, because the Bible affirms that man is not master of his own death, as Ecclesiastes 8.8 points out: "No one has power over the day of death."

Suicide is regarded as a form of murder against oneself, contrary to the divine commandment: "You shall not murder" (Exodus 20.13). This principle applies to every human life, including one's own.

Murder is seen as a grave transgression, because man is created in the image of God, according to Genesis 9.6: "Whoever sheds human blood, by humans shall their blood be shed; for God made man in his own image."

The Bible values life as a sacred gift, and any action aimed at voluntarily ending it is seen as a violation of the divine order. That said, it also calls for compassion, for understanding of despair, and for grace, even toward those who have committed such faults.

Aggressive medical treatment

Advances in medicine today make it possible to keep alive artificially people who would otherwise have died. Stopping these treatments is not considered euthanasia, but a return to the natural process. In France, the , reinforced by the Claeys-Leonetti law in 2016, governs this practice.

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This analysis shows that the legislator is going too far with this new law on euthanasia. It appears that the individual seeks to exercise greater control over the fundamental aspects of his existence, notably life and death. In this light, the principle of euthanasia can be perceived as a desire to assert total autonomy, but also to free oneself from God's role in this domain.

As with the laws on same-sex marriage or the PACS, we are witnessing a deliberate eviction of any spiritual reference. Man places himself at the center, claiming to decide alone what is right or good, with no regard for transcendent landmarks. He arrogates to himself the power to redefine the very foundations of life and society, removing God from the equation.

Moreover, it is fitting to acknowledge the benefits offered by scientific progress; in this context, the Leonetti law seems to align more closely with biblical principles. The apostle Paul declared in Romans 1.22: "Claiming to be wise, they became fools." This word resonates with particular force today. This is not about mental folly, but spiritual folly, the kind that is born of rejecting divine truths. By claiming to free himself from God, man sinks into a moral and intellectual confusion that distances him from true wisdom.

The disciple of Jesus the Messiah today should free himself from these laws and keep the Word of God as his reference.

"The law of is perfect, restoring the soul; the testimony of is sure, making wise the simple." Psalms 19.6.