Finding Loving Care At The End of Life Care & Prepare

What to Remember: Dignity of the Human Person Resurrection

Euthanasia & Assisted Suicide Putting someone to death who is disabled, sick, or dying in order to end their suffering “An action or omission which of itself and by intention causes death, with the purpose of eliminating all suffering” EV 65 Never acceptable

Allowing Natural Death Allowing a person to die means “discontinuing medical procedures that are burdensome, dangerous, extraordinary, or disproportionate to the expected outcome” CCC 2278 Must provide ordinary care

Proportionate & Ordinary Care Ordinary Care to Preserve Life Food and water (nutrition & hydration) – always Ordinary medicine – always Treatment - depends

Proportionate vs. Disproportionate Care Optional Support to Preserve Life Burdensome - Extreme pain/discomfort; severe financial hardship Dangerous - Experimental or life-threatening treatments Extraordinary - Extreme medical procedures to prolong life Disproportionate to Expected Outcome - Even with care, life/health would only be helped by a small degree

Palliative Care Care to a dying person who cannot be healed, so that he/she will experience death with love and human dignity Can use painkillers to alleviate pain even if it hastens death – as long as death is not willed/intended, but simply foreseen and tolerated as inevitable

No One Is Alone Those choosing assisted suicide don’t want to die They are sick, in pain, hurting, and don’t want to feel like a burden Accompany, reassure, love, care, advocate