Euthanasia from the Perspective of Indonesian Norms

Abstract

Sutarno

This paper investigated euthanasia from a variety of norms in Indonesia. From the perspective of religion, almost all religions oppose euthanasia to be conducted as it discords God’s order. However, it is interesting that some of Moslems are, in fact, likely to consider a passive euthanasia for an individual suffering from a terminal condition which any treatment is no longer useful for him. The Luteranian claimed that either nutrient or infusion is no longer needed for patients with terminal condition and no hope of recovery. From the perspective of ethics and profession, euthanasia is considered to be bad, inhuman, violating the right of living, and so on. Medical ethics work through the norms of morality in performing its profession. What doctors perform should be beneficial not taking patients into disadvantageous conditions, appreciate the ideas of their patients with an autonomy toward their own body, and fair or holding on the principles of justice. The current doctor-patient relationship is confusing due to the common condition in which Indonesia is still encountering a conflict of socio-cultural and legal values. A willing to survive which goes upon a life with communal value-oriented such as mutual consent and fatherhood does exist in one part, however, a major doctrine of rule of law simultaneously exists as well in another part whether it is realized or not. Therefore, it needs a legal regulation on euthanasia to meet the sense of justice, to respect the patients’ rights, and to ensure which doctors are allowed, banned or under arrest.