Euthanasia

Medical / Generic definition
Bioethical definition.

Describe pain and suffering within context of faith
Physician Assisted Suicide / Death ( PAS / PAD)

Definition
Is it ethical?
Should we have the right to end our lives? Why yes or why not?

Better alternatives to PAS; compare and contrast each:

Hospice
Palliative care / Terminal sedation

Case studies. Brief summary of:

Hemlock Society
Jacob Kevorkian
Britanny Maynard

Read and summarize ERD paragraphs #:  59, 60, 61.

Submission Instructions:

The paper is to be clear and concise and students will lose points for improper grammar, punctuation, and misspelling.
If references are used, please cite properly according to the current APA style. Refer to your syllabus for further detail or contact your instructor.

Euthanasia

Physician Assisted Suicide / Death (PAS, PAD)

Hospice

Palliative care

Terminal sedation

Killing vs allowing to die

Case studies

EUTHANASIA: ORIGINALLY; EU – THANATOS (Gk) “TRUE, GOOD – DEATH”

• HISTORICALLY: ACTIVE / PASSIVE EUTHANASIA

• TODAY: “CAUSING DEATH SO AS TO ALLEVIATE SUFFERING” (ERD 60, 61)

Medical definitions of active and passive euthanasia
The practice of intentionally ending a life in order
to relieve pain and suffering (MedicineNet)

Generic Definition
The act or practice of killing or permitting the death of hopelessly sick or
injured individuals (such as persons or domestic animals) in a relatively
painless way for reasons of mercy (Merriam-Webster Dictionary)

Medical Dictionary (online)
deliberate ending of life of a person suffering from an incurable disease
Today: include withholding extraordinary means or “heroic measures,”
and thus allowing the patient to die
Traditionally:
positive or active euthanasia
(deliberate ending of life and an action is taken to cause death in a person)
negative or passive euthanasia
(withholding of life-preserving procedures and treatments that would prolong the life
of one who is incurably and terminally ill and could not survive without them)
Today all euthanasia is generally understood to be active;
forgoing life-sustaining treatment is replacing passive euthanasia.

BIOETHICAL DEFINITION OF EUTHANASIA (ERD 60, 61)

60. Euthanasia is an action or omission that of itself or by intention causes death
in order to alleviate suffering. Catholic health care institutions may never
condone or participate in euthanasia or assisted suicide in any way. Dying
patients who request euthanasia should receive loving care, psychological and
spiritual support, and appropriate remedies for pain and other symptoms so that
they can live with dignity until the time of natural death.

61. Patients should be kept as free of pain as possible so that they may die
comfortably and with dignity, and in the place where they wish to die. Since a
person has the right to prepare for his or her death while fully conscious, he or
she should not be deprived of consciousness without a compelling reason.
Medicines capable of alleviating or suppressing pain may be given to a dying
person, even if this therapy may indirectly shorten the person’s life so long as
the intent is not to hasten death. Patients experiencing suffering that cannot be
alleviated should be helped to appreciate the Christian understanding of
redemptive suffering.

PAIN / SUFFERING; W/IN CONTEXT OF FAITH -; REDEMPTIVE VALUE

(JUDEO-CHRISTIAN TRADITION)

DECLARATION ON EUTHANASIA (1980):

http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cf

Ethical and Religious Directives for

Catholic Health Care Services

Sixth Edition

UNITED STATES CONFERENCE OF CATHOLIC BISHOPS

2

Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services, Sixth Edition

This sixth edition of the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services was

developed by the Committee on Doctrine of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB)

and approved by the USCCB at its June 2018 Plenary Assembly. This edition of the Directives replaces

all previous editions, is recommended for implementation by the diocesan bishop, and is authorized for

publication by the undersigned.

Msgr. J. Brian Bransfield, STD

General Secretary, USCCB

Excerpts from The Documents of Vatican II, ed. Walter M. Abbott, SJ, copyright © 1966 by America

Press are used with permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture texts used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, copyright © 1991, 1986, and

1970 by the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, DC, 20017 and are used by permission of

the copyright owner. All rights reserved.

Digital Edition, June 2018

Copyright © 2009, 2018, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, DC. All rights

reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic

or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system,

without permission in writing from the copyright holder.

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Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services, Sixth Edition

Contents

4 Preamble

6 General Introduction

8 PART ONE

The Social Responsibility of

Catholic Health Care

Services

10 PART TWO

The Pastoral and Spiritual

Responsibility of Catholic

Health Care

13 PART THREE

The Professional-Patient Relationship

16 PART FOUR

Issues in Care for the Beginning of Life

20 PART FIVE

Issues in Care for the Seriously Ill

and Dying

23 PART SIX

Collaborative Arrangements with

Other Health Care Organizations and Providers

27 Conclusion

4

Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services, Sixth Edition

Preamble

Health care in the United States is marked by extraordinary change. Not only is there