Many voices (some of which we have mentioned) have commented on a DC court case in which the parents of a brain-dead 12 year old boy fought to keep him on life support, citing their Orthodox Jewish belief that a beating heart meant the boy was still alive. Before the boy’s death this past Saturday, The Washington Post opened a forum for people to ask questions of Rabbi Dr. Edward Reichman, an expert of Jewish medical ethics. Fundamentally, he believes that:
The issue here is respect for religious beliefs. Acceptance of religious beliefs is one of the strengths of our American society and we generally, with very few exceptions, will allow religious beliefs to be expressed as long as they do not harm other individuals. On the one side, we allow patients to withhold their own care and refuse life-saving blood transfusions even if it means they will die as a result. We should likewise respect that religious freedom for those who want their lives continued in the belief that this is their religious teaching.
Read his full discussion, including explanations of the theology surrounding this case, here, and see our previous here & there coverage of this difficult issue.