Religions More Alike Than Different On End Of Life Treatment.

This linked story shows that religions are more alike than different regarding end of life treatment. To generalize they differentiate between terminal disease and irreversible conditions, between extaordinary medical care and a feeding tube, and they tend to oppose euthanasia while recognizing that it can be moral to let nature take its course.

They do differ with the opinions of many bioethicists, however.

It's a common statement that our technology has outstripped our ethics. The linked story shows that religious teachings are consistent on end of life treatment and they do have an answer. When people say that technology has outstripped ethics what they really mean is that religion keeps some bioethicists, scientists and doctors from doing what they want. The Terri Schiavo case shows that's what has really happened is that science and medicine have operated too long out of the public eye.

-tdr