Death is often only one of many options that could be used to solve the pain of life but often appears to be the easiest and quickest solution.
According to religious teaching, life is a "gift from God". Only he can decide when a life begins or ends. But who's "God" makes this decision? The allowance of mercy killing is not a religious decision but instead a governmental decision. Religious beliefs do not have any jurisdiction on what laws are passed. There is a distinct separation between religious beliefs and governmental policy. Is prayer allowed in school? However, from a religious stand point whose point of view do we observe? Do we obey the will of the Bible, Torah or Koran? Many followers of the Bible and Torah will disagree with the practice of mercy killing. However, in many Arabic countries this practice is accepted. What about people who do not practice any religion? Disallowing mercy killing based on a religious aspect would violate their rights. In the United States people have the right to practice any religion they chose. This freedom allows many different religious views. Some of these views accept mercy killing. It would not be fair to combine all of these views as one general idea. Religious leaders choose to base their premise that is only valid to those who believe in God and for some that is sufficient ground on which to base an argument. A problem only exists when God alone is offered as the reason for an action. For the atheist or even the agnostic such a statement is of little significance and gives no substance to an argument. Further it is a statement that is difficult to judge or prove as either true or false.
It is considered to be against the natural law when someone deliberately kills another without God's authority. And according to some people such as pro life activist mercy killing breaks this principle. They believe that people do not have the right to choose the time of their own death.