Introduction
A 14-year-old citizen of Chile, Valentina Moreira, was diagnosed with an incurable disease – cystic fibrosis. The girl weighed only 35 kilograms, and she was unable to eat and breathe on her own: she had to get food through a tube and she was connected to an oxygen machine around the clock (Vasylieva et al., 2021). That is why she made a video message to the Chilean president asking her to allow the girl’s euthanasia to stop the torment. President Michelle Bachelet denied Valentina Moreira this, as euthanasia is illegal in Chile; I would make the same decision about this case.
Discussion
Euthanasia is the deliberate deprivation of a person’s life with his consent. The Christian church defines euthanasia as suicide and murder. Propaganda of suicide is an extreme degree of falling away from God (Vasylieva et al., 2021). People who advocate the legalization of this sin are irreligious and commit a grave sin against God who is the source of life. Suffering is sometimes purifying and leads to salvation and glory in the life of the next century. At the same time, the clergy know from experience how, after prayer, unction, and communion, absolutely hopeless patients returned to normal life.
Conclusion
The separation of the soul from the body, as well as the birth of a person, belongs only to God. Only He is the source of resurrection, life, and rest. It is in view of these dogmas that the Christian church always categorically opposes any attempts to promote the use of euthanasia in one way or another, especially at the state level. Thus, from the point of view of Christianity, President Michelle Bachelet made the right choice, not allowing an exception for Valentina Moreira and forbidding her euthanasia.
Reference
Vasylieva, I., Hololobova, K., Nechushkina, O., Kobrzhytskyi, V., Kiriienko, S., & Laputko, A. (2021). Attitudes of medical students towards artificial termination of pregnancy and euthanasia in the context of Christian ethics. Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe, 41(8), 91–105.