Truthfully, a lot of this euthanasia problem could be alleviated if conservative and Orthodox religions could create their own “standard of struggle” for the aged and infirm.
Think of it as a standard for “religious permission to die naturally.”
Right now it is religiously open-ended, leading some people to want to die because of a paper cut, and others willing to experience unending agony and dehumanization to cling to the remnants of life.
Properly, people should resist death, and be supported by their faith in this resistance. But there needs to be a point where their faith says, “You can stop fighting, and heaven will not hold it against you.”
Importantly, this does *not* mean euthanasia. Just the acceptance that physical death cannot be denied forever, and the important thing is spiritual survival beyond death.
This was somewhat contained in the final days of Pope John Paul II, in which he knew his body was dying, so his effort was in preserving his spirit. Giving up one fight to pursue the other.
Truly a “death with dignity”. No euthanasia, no narcotic haze beyond pain relief, surrounded by the faithful and caring, not the physicians, surgeons and nurses.
Such a “standard for struggle” would not be easy to codify, because each person is different; but religious absolution should be there to ease the final days.
religious standards will not be allowed
Whether you live or die, comrade, is now an issue for the state!