Gerald A. Larue

Gerald A. Larue is a professor of religion at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles and the author of several books, including Playing God:50 Religions’ Views on Your Right to Die, from which the following viewpoint was excerpted. In it, he argues that legalized euthanasia would not be abused by the government because the American people would not allow it. In a democracy, Larue maintains, individuals are free to speak out against unjust practices, and leaders who abuse their power can be removed from office. Therefore, writes the author, claims that euthanasia will inevitably be abused the same way it was in Nazi Germany are unfounded, since that nation under Hitler was not a democracy, and the euthanasia practiced then was never voluntary.

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