To Rest in Peace: Judeo-Christian Approach to End-of-Life and Palliative Treatment

Abstract

The concept of 'dying of old age' almost does not exist today; it is always death from some illness. The religious world has become captive to the concept that we must do everything to prolong metabolism for every additional moment. In most cases, a person is separated from the world while in an alienated environment, connected to transfusions and machines. While we deny euthanasia in an absolute and unconditional manner, our practical suggestion is to encourage palliative medicine. This type of care is focused on providing relief from the symptoms and stress of the illness rather than attempting to cure. We wish to instill the understanding that natural death from old age is a gift from God, not a punishment.

Keywords: aging, terminal illness, palliative care