The Vatican has denounced the recent physician-assisted suicide of Brittany Maynard. The 29-year-old terminally ill cancer victim died last week.
According to Christian Today, Father Ignacio Carrasco de Paula, president of the Pontifical Academy for Life, called assisted suicide an "absurdity" in an interview with Italian news agency ANSA.
"Society does not want to shoulder the cost of disease and this risks becoming the solution," he said.
"This woman [took her own life] thinking she would die with dignity, but this is the error, suicide is not a good thing, it is a bad thing because it is saying no to life and to everything it means with respect to our mission in the world and towards those around us."
Maynard ended her own life with lethal medication prescribed by a doctor. She was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer in April. Her story drew national attention for choosing to end her life on her own terms.
In advance of her death Maynard wrote on Facebook, "The world is a beautiful place, travel has been my greatest teacher, my close friends and folks are the greatest givers. I even have a ring of support around my bed as I type...Goodbye world. Spread good energy. Pay it forward!"
Maynard and her family moved from northern California to Oregon, where physician-assisted suicide is legal.
Publication date: November 6, 2014
