Master Jing Jie - Is Removing the Life Sustaining Tube considered Killing 拔掉維生管就算是殺人嗎?
(English Subtitles) Lectured by Master Jìng Jiè (淨界法師) from Taiwan. Subtitles:
I would like to ask the compassionate Master a question. Some elders have been sick for a long time and lie in the hospital bed. They have inserted a life-sustaining tube. But sometimes, family members feel sad to see them suffering and suggest removing the tube. Euthanasia. How do we comprehend this situation?
When a person enters a vegetative state, his consciousness still exists, but his nervous system is destroyed. His organs are malfunctioning. But his consciousness still exists. So, he is sentient. It's just that his organs to express emotions are not working. Since he is a sentient being, killing him is a sin of killing. Because he hasn't fully enjoyed his good fortune.
1:00
He was born in your family and will keep bringing pain to you, because your destined connection hasn't finished yet. You can't cease his life artificially. Otherwise, you will commit murder.
If someone is on the verge of death and is on life support. That is to say, in normal conditions, he should have died, but is alive on life support. You take off this thing just keep him normal. It's not considered murder. Got it? In other words, he should have died. Afterward, he survived on life support. The patient can be extubated because the doctor has declared the treatment ineffective. Because you are maintaining his life through the life support system. You may let him stay in a normal state. Although he is still alive, he is just a vegetable.
2:00
If you use drug to kill him, it's committing the sin of murder. This is different.
I would like to ask the compassionate Master a question. Some elders have been sick for a long time and lie in the hospital bed. They have inserted a life-sustaining tube. But sometimes, family members feel sad to see them suffering and suggest removing the tube. Euthanasia. How do we comprehend this situation?
When a person enters a vegetative state, his consciousness still exists, but his nervous system is destroyed. His organs are malfunctioning. But his consciousness still exists. So, he is sentient. It's just that his organs to express emotions are not working. Since he is a sentient being, killing him is a sin of killing. Because he hasn't fully enjoyed his good fortune.
1:00
He was born in your family and will keep bringing pain to you, because your destined connection hasn't finished yet. You can't cease his life artificially. Otherwise, you will commit murder.
If someone is on the verge of death and is on life support. That is to say, in normal conditions, he should have died, but is alive on life support. You take off this thing just keep him normal. It's not considered murder. Got it? In other words, he should have died. Afterward, he survived on life support. The patient can be extubated because the doctor has declared the treatment ineffective. Because you are maintaining his life through the life support system. You may let him stay in a normal state. Although he is still alive, he is just a vegetable.
2:00
If you use drug to kill him, it's committing the sin of murder. This is different.