Belgium Senate votes to continue child euthanasia; what about the ‘Hippocratic oath’?

Wat Abortion

Bas-relief at Angkor Wat depicting a demon performing an ancient abortion.

In a move that sadly no longer shocks, the Belgian Senate voted to continue to allow the killing of children:

December 13, 2013

The Belgian Senate has voted in favour of extending its euthanasia law to terminally-ill children.

The Senate voted 50-17 in favour of the legislation, which is opposed by religious leaders in Belgium.

The bill seeks to allow children to ask for euthanasia if their illness is terminal, they are in great pain and there is no available treatment.

It will now go before the lower house of parliament, where correspondents say it is likely to be approved. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-25364745

Let me first state that I believe that euthanasia is wrong. Secondarily, I would like to state that there is ALWAYS treatment that could be available–it is the proven effectiveness that may be an issue, but some treatment is available for pretty much everything.

Euthanasia itself has been legal in Belgium for adults since 2002. Active euthanasia (where something is intentionally done to cause someone to die) is also legal in the Netherlands and Luxembourg. Doctor-assisted suicide is (or has been) ‘legal’ in Switzerland and the U.S. states of Oregon, Washington, Vermont, and Montana. Of course, it violates the portion of the Hippocratic oath about not harming patients. It also violates the Bible’s commands against murder (Exodus 20:13; Deuteronomy 5:17).

Notice what the Bible warns about the type of leadership that encourages sin:

¹²…O My people! Those who lead you cause you to err, And destroy the way of your paths (Isaiah 3:12).

¹⁶For the leaders of this people cause them to err, And those who are led by them are destroyed (Isaiah 9:16).

28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; 32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them. (Romans 1:28-32)

Although it always needed to be modified because of its initial swearing to pagan gods, abortion and acts like assisted suicide were prohibited to doctors who took what is known as the Hippocratic oath. Here is part of an English translation of the original Hippocratic oath:

I will prescribe regimens for the good of my patients according to my ability and my judgment and never do harm to anyone.

I will give no deadly medicine to any one if asked, nor suggest any such counsel; and similarly I will not give a woman a pessary to cause an abortion.

But I will preserve the purity of my life and my arts.

I will not cut for stone, even for patients in whom the disease is manifest; I will leave this operation to be performed by practitioners, specialists in this art.

In every house where I come I will enter only for the good of my patients, keeping myself far from all intentional ill-doing and all seduction and especially from the pleasures of love with women or men, be they free or slaves.

All that may come to my knowledge in the exercise of my profession or in daily commerce with men, which ought not to be spread abroad, I will keep secret and will never reveal.

If I keep this oath faithfully, may I enjoy my life and practise my art, respected by all humanity and in all times; but if I swerve from it or violate it, may the reverse be my life. (Wikipedia, viewed 12/13/13)

Reportedly, though there is currently no legal obligation for medical students to swear an oath upon graduating, 98% of American medical students ‘swear to some form of oath.’ The version that most doctors ‘swear to’ no longer mentions abortion, but if they understood their history better, they would realize that their profession is supposed to be against abortion and assisted suicide. Irrespective of that, the Bible teaches that one is not to murder (Exodus 20:13). And that includes murdering oneself.

Notice also the following:

Is suicide a crime?…

God commands: “THOU SHALT NOT KILL” (the sixth commandment). Webster defines the word kill as “to deprive of life.” To commit suicide, then, is breaking one of the Ten Commandments -and is definitely condemned by God. Paul admonishes us saying, “Know you not that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

If any man DESTROY (KJV margin) the temple of God, him shall God DESTROY; for the temple of God is holy, which temple you are” (1 Cor. 3 : 16, 17 ) . “What, know you not that your BODY is the temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which you have of God, and you are not your own?” (I Cor. 6: 19). No murderer-or suicide-has eternal life abiding in him (I John 3: 15). He has no hope unless and until in the general resurrection after the millennium he repents of his sin (Matthew 11 :20-24). (Plain Truth. January 1960, pp. 15-16)

The Great Tribulation is coming as is the Day of the Lord’s vengeance. Euthanasia, abortion, and suicide is wrong. They should not be legal nor encouraged by any governments.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Abortion, the Bible, and a Woman’s Right to Choose Do you know what the Bible teaches on this? Has the Roman Catholic Church allowed abortions? What about the real Church of God? Some may also, or instead, wish to view the YouTube video Abortion, the Bible, and US Debt.
The Ten Commandments Reflect Love, Breaking them is Evil Some feel that the ten commandments are a burden. Is that what Jesus, Paul, Peter, James, and John taught?
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2013, 2014, or 2015? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before the Great Tribulation in the “beginning of sorrows”? What happens in the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord? Is this the time of the Gentiles? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord? Who are the 144,000? Here is a version of the article in the Spanish language: ¿Puede comenzar la Gran Tribulación en 2013 o 2014? ¿Es el Tiempo de los Gentiles? You can also see the English language video The Great Tribulation Will Not Begin Before 2017.