Is it a sin to allow a disease to take your life?

[Piebald]

More specifically:

Say that you have reason to believe that you may have cancer. However, you do not take any action on this. You resign yourself to death by cancer if that is the case.

Is this situation sinful? Is it sinful to refuse medical treatment?

[Piebald]

Anyone have any thoughts on this they'd like to share?

[The Laughing Man]

My father fought cancer and ended up with a relapse. He chose not to fight it. My father didn't make this choice lightly nor without a lot of prayer. He felt the Lord calling him home. But as the Lord does with all things, he took something tragic and made something wonderful from it. I got saved because of the near-silent witness of my father's final days. If he had fought the cancer and lived, I don't know where I would be today.

One man was lost on earth, but two (at least two) were gained in Heaven.

[GhostontheNet]

More specifically:

Say that you have reason to believe that you may have cancer. However, you do not take any action on this. You resign yourself to death by cancer if that is the case.

Is this situation sinful? Is it sinful to refuse medical treatment?


It depends on if the total price of the treatment, literally and figuratively, including upon the others involved, and whether living is worth more than what is required for living. This should not be confused with euthenasia type defenses of some among those who chose it that "I don't want to be a burden" when in fact often the family would cheerfully pay large sums and make many sacrifices for their sake - because they know that their life gives them more than all the other things.

[National Intelligence Director Phoenix]

More specifically:

Say that you have reason to believe that you may have cancer. However, you do not take any action on this. You resign yourself to death by cancer if that is the case.

Is this situation sinful? Is it sinful to refuse medical treatment?




Hamster. I think it depends on the situation.

First off, I'd say that there has to be zero chance of recovery. The disease has to be terminal. Now in this case, I say that if someone wants to "get right with God" and maybe take pain medication towards the end to avoid the pain, then it could be for the best.

However, I do not support Euthanasia where you put the sick person "out of their misery" for purely financial reasons or when it could be treated." I'd recommend getting a copy of Geisler and Turek's "Legislating Morality" on this. They have a section on Euthanasia. (I'd tell you what it says now but someone is borrowing mine at the moment.)

Hope this helps!

[semmie]

i'm not sure that i agree with lumping euthenasia and refusing treatment in the same category. :shrug:

i don't think it's necessarily sinful for a person to refuse treatment for something like cancer. in some cases, the treatment is worse than the disease--and that doesn't even gaurantee a clean bill of health.

i think it can be sinful...but not inherently.

[National Intelligence Director Phoenix]

i'm not sure that i agree with lumping euthenasia and refusing treatment in the same category. :shrug:

i don't think it's necessarily sinful for a person to refuse treatment for something like cancer. in some cases, the treatment is worse than the disease--and that doesn't even gaurantee a clean bill of health.

i think it can be sinful...but not inherently.

I do agree with you Semmie. I think three things have to be kept in mind. I believe Aquinas spoke about three purposes in an action to determine its goodness.

The intent, the action itself, and the goal desired.

I still recommend Geisler and Turek's "Legislating Morality."

[themuzicman]

More specifically:

Say that you have reason to believe that you may have cancer. However, you do not take any action on this. You resign yourself to death by cancer if that is the case.

Is this situation sinful? Is it sinful to refuse medical treatment?



I would agree that this falls under "it depends."

There is a time to throw in the towel, because treatment would only delay the inevitable and increase suffering.

However, I also think if you think you can fight and win, or at least gain some productive years, then do so.

Not sure that I would call either "sin", per se.

Michael