The Boston Legal episode that aired on Apr 15th 2008, had one of the story lines deal with physician assisted suicide/homicide. As Catholics we need to learn what the Church teaches on this subject so we can inform the people we work with the truth of the wonderful meaning of life. This episode tries to make an argument that will foster a Culture of Death. We need to counter with a Culture of Life!
I think one of the lessons Pope John Paul II wanted to show us is Salvation through Suffering. I know this is a very sensitive subject, but that is what makes it important and imperative to get right. Pope John Paul II wrote an Apostolic Letter SALVIFICI DOLORIS (On the Meaning of Human Suffering) that is a very good explanation of the Church's Teaching. Another good resource is the Encyclical Evangelium Vitae (The Gospel of Life) by John Paul II.
Why take away someone's pain when it is possible to be helpful to their salvation. I am not advocating undue or unnecessary pain, but the normal pain of death may be redemptive. Also the pain we experience can do the same for us and we have the opportunity to apply our sufferings to them.
I also came across an article on John Paul II and the Meaning of Suffering by Fr John Hardon that puts the Church's Teaching eloquently as does and article in This Rock magazine from Catholic Answers, A Pope’s Answer to the Problem of Pain
Refer also to the Catechism Paragraphs 2269, 2276-2279, 1502 and the Compendium of the Catechism question 470-471 and 368.
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