Does an individual ever have the "right to die?" Must life be prolonged when there is little or no chance of its restoration to "meaningful existence?" Is there any moral justification for curtailing the life of a terminally-ill patient in order to free him from unbearable suffering? These questions, punctuated by the much-publicized and controversial Karen Ann Quinlan case, are becoming increasingly important as we strive to enhance not only the quantity but the quality of human life. They concern a very real problem faced by our own Orthodox Christian clergy and laity alike in dealing with acutely and terminally-ill patients. We therefore ask, "What is the stance of the Orthodox Church concerning mercy-killing or euthanasia?" And "to what extent ...





















