Matters of Life and Death Autonomy, suffering and dignity: Christianity and assisted dying
Nov 12, 2025
John Wyatt, an experienced physician and ethicist, dives deep into the controversial topic of assisted dying. He critiques the UK’s proposed bill, raising concerns over euphemistic language and the implications for patient autonomy. Wyatt candidly compares international statistics on assisted death and examines the medicalization of dying. He challenges the ethical distinction between suicide prevention and assisted dying, warning against the risks of coercion. Ultimately, he advocates for compassionate care that acknowledges human dignity without resorting to killing.
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Medicalised Death Fuels Fear Of Dependence
- Modern dying is medicalised and hidden, so people fear dependence and loss of control.
- That fear fuels demand for assisted suicide despite intrinsic human dignity remaining unchanged.
Assisted Deaths Often Reflect Existential Loss
- Data from Canada show most assisted deaths cite loss of meaningful activity, independence, or being a burden, not uncontrolled physical pain.
- This reveals existential and relational drivers behind assisted dying requests.
Two Kinds Of Dignity
- Dignity splits into intrinsic worth and attributed status, which often gets conflated in debates.
- Christians appeal to intrinsic dignity to resist assigning different worth based on disability or dependence.
