FROM ORDINARY TO EXTRAORDINARY…

JOURNAL QUESTION I had earlier asked you when you thought life begins. My question today is: When does life END?

EUTHANASIA Definition: EASY: Mercy killing SPECIFIC: An act or omission which of itself and by intention causes death, with the purpose of eliminating suffering

Types of Euthanasia… ACTIVE EUTHANASIA: PASSIVE EUTHANASIA: Death is caused by a direct human act. Example: PASSIVE EUTHANASIA: Death is caused by an omission of a medical intervention.

A Distinction But does that mean we need to do EVERYTHING to keep people alive? NO!! We are expected to use ordinary (normal) medical practices to keep people alive. We DO NOT have to use “extraordinary means” or “aggressive means” to keep people alive.

What are ordinary means? According to John Paul II, the following are ordinary means: Nutrition Hydration Cleanliness Warmth March 20, 2004

Declaration on Euthanasia “In such situations, when death is clearly imminent and inevitable, one can in [good] conscience ‘refuse forms of treatment that would only secure a precarious and burdensome prolongation of life, so long as the normal care due to the sick person in similar cases is not interrupted.” (#65)

STAYIN’ ALIVE… EXTRAORDINARY MEANS ORDINARY MEANS: Interventions that are often experimental that prolong life DISPROPORTIONATE MEANS: Means that don’t offer a reasonable hope of benefit or that create an excessive burden ORDINARY MEANS: Standard medical interventions (See JP II’s list of these) PROPORTIONATE MEANS: Means that offer a reasonable hope for benefit without an excessive burden

ADDITIONAL TERMINOLOGY ASSISSTED SUICIDE: When medical personnel prescribe a deadly amount of medication with the intent to help the person commit suicide. PVS: Persistent Vegetative State A condition in which a person loses the higher cerebral powers of the brain but still maintains activity in the brain stem

Evangelium Vitae “Even when not motivated by a selfish refusal to be burdened with the life of someone who is suffering, euthanasia must be called a false mercy, and indeed a disturbing perversion of mercy. True compassion leads to sharing another’s pain; it does not kill the person whose suffering WE cannot bear.” (#66)

Questions to Consider: Are we prolonging someone’s life or prolonging someone’s death? Are we considering OUR needs to avoid suffering or THEIRS? What is an ordinary medical treatment for a person in a given situation?