Bouddhisme et éthique : le cas de l'euthanasie

This article attempts to analyse ethical issues surrounding euthanasia in the Buddhist tradition. The various cultures and societies in which Buddhism is present have produced a highly diversified set of views concerning such questions. Nevertheless, a cautious interpretation of fundamental values and teachings of Buddhism enables a discussion on the pertinence of theories put forward by the few authors who have addressed this. Some of them discuss the homicidal action performed by health professionals, asking specifically whether the inalienable principle of respecting life should not be moderated by the compassion principle for a dying patient. Others focus on patient refusal of life-sustaining treatment and thus exclusively analyse the question from the patient's perspective. This article concludes that Buddhism would not accept euthanasia. On the other hand, the Buddhist view pertaining to interruption of care and patient refusal of treatment is more difficult to ascertain. Finally, since no articles were found from countries where Buddhism plays an important role, it is tricky to evaluate whether euthanasia is an actual concern for theoreticians and health professionals living in such societies.