user5838: Doctor assisted suicide - a hot potato in the western countries these days. Although this is a kind of suicide, the patient is fully awake and living human being in contrast to a patient in life support due to brain death. According to the Buddhist teachings, what are the karmic repercussions for the doctor who assists the suicide?

user254: Assisting suicide would be considered an offence of defeat in a monk.

Whatever monk should intentionally deprive a human being of life, or should look about to be his knife-bringer, he is also one who is defeated and is no more in communion.

-- Attitudes to Euthanasia in the Vinaya and Commentary

5838: <p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assisted_suicide" rel="nofollow">Doctor assisted suicide</a> - a hot potato in the western countries these days. Although this is a kind of suicide, the patient is fully awake and living human being in contrast to a patient in life support due to brain death. According to the Buddhist teachings, what are the karmic repercussions for the doctor who assists the suicide?</p>
 254: <p>Assisting suicide would be considered an offence of defeat in a monk.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Whatever monk should intentionally deprive a human being of life, <strong>or should look about to be his knife-bringer</strong>, he is also one who is defeated and is no more in communion.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>-- <a href="http://www.urbandharma.org/udharma/euthanasia.html#one" rel="nofollow">Attitudes to Euthanasia in the Vinaya and Commentary</a></p>
