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Christine Ann
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| Joined: | Mon Oct 9th, 2006 |
| Location: | An Hours' Drive From Cincinnati, Ohio USA |
| Posts: | 118 |
| First Name: | Christine Ann | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | former Lutheran, Baptist, now Catholic. |
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Posted: Thu Apr 12th, 2007 11:25 am |
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I have a moral question regarding death and the time of death. I have been told that I should have a Living Will. How does this relate to the anointing of the sick and dying? What exactlly is the Catholic view of having a Living Will? The issue of allowing someone to die naturally versus using every means possible to keep one alive is a very important one to me personally at this time. What do I need to do as a Catholic for myself and regarding others who are sick?
My little grandaughter, Karis Ann, who is 7 months old has been struggling to be alive the whole length of her lifetime. She is (once again) being kept alive by something called nitric which she cannot continue to take long term.
She has had an open heart surgery...a second one, and now is breathing having had a tracheotomy. Her lungs are very bad and it is becoming doubtful that she will be healed. She has "coded" three times and been revived. My daugher and her husband are still holding on to hope. The've been told that a surgery is too risky for Karis, so she is being maintained right now. They have asked for a second opinion from Children's Hosptial in Boston (she is in Children's Hospital in Cincinnati in ICU at present.) I am torn between wanting her to survive so badly and letting her go to end her suffering. I don't know how to pray any more except that God's Will be done. Of course this is a decision her young parents will have to make should it come to that...and it looks likely that it will and they are nowhere ready for her to die.
Please pray for Karis and her family. She is born to Baptist parents so she is not baptized. I doubt that the anointing of the sick would be tolerated either. We have all grown to love her so. I know this isn't an appropriate place on the forum to ask for prayer...but I'm asking anyway.
What about the Living Will? It doesn't reallly apply to Karis, but I'm wondering for myself and my loved ones. I have aged parents who could state what they want, but have not. How does one approach them? These are such terrible decisions to make.
I don't mean to sound too pessimistic, but "bad" lungs in an infant is deadly because there is so little they can do. This reality has left me spiritually exhausted. What do we say to our children? Silence and allowing them to take their time in accepting this is all I know to do...and prayer of course.
Sorry to have gotten away from my original questions, but I could use some prayer support, too..
In His Love,
Christine Ann
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CajunRick
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| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Houma, Louisiana USA |
| Posts: | 5348 |
| First Name: | Rick (& Kermie) | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Lifetime Catholic, Latin Rite |
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Posted: Thu Apr 12th, 2007 01:23 pm |
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Christine Ann wrote: I have a moral question regarding death and the time of death. I have been told that I should have a Living Will. How does this relate to the anointing of the sick and dying? What exactlly is the Catholic view of having a Living Will? The issue of allowing someone to die naturally versus using every means possible to keep one alive is a very important one to me personally at this time. What do I need to do as a Catholic for myself and regarding others who are sick?
The Church fully supports both Living Wills and Organ Donation.
According to the Church, all "ordinary means" must be continued as long as they are effective in maintaining life. That means it is not permitted to withdraw food and water, even if provided by extraordinary means like a feeding tube, to maintain life. The only time food and water may be withdrawn is in the final stages of a terminal disease when the body can no longer sustain itself, and the food and water themselves become counterproductive.
Also, medication may not be given beyond that which is needed to relieve symptoms such as pain or anxiety. However, medication should not be withheld even if it is required in such large doses that it may shorten life by a brief period.
And the Church also recognizes that financial burden is a valid factor in determining whether a method of maintaining life is "ordinary" or "extraordinary". No one wants to be in a position where we have to make life and death decisions for financial reasons, but the fact is that sometimes families spend enormous amounts of money to buy a few extra days or weeks of life without any quality whatsoever, and that is pointless. It is better to allow the natural processes to take place without interference through hospice or similar means than to keep someone in a coma in intensive care having surgeries and continually restarting a failing heart.
The decisions are never easy, but a Living Will expresses a person's wishes so that family members who are filled with grief are not forced to make them out of guilt. It is a blessing to one's children to have made arrangements in advance.
My favorite program for end of life planning is called Five Wishes, available from the Aging With Dignity Foundation. This is a plain-language program that does not require a lawyer or a notary in most states, and is fully enforceable. There is no charge except for mailing (something like a dollar) although tax deductible contributions are accepted. One thing to keep in mind: Copies are not valid. You must fill out the original program guide, so don't think you can buy one and make copies for the rest of your family. As a legal document, it must be the original, bound program. Once you fill it in, then you can copy it and give copies to your doctor, your pastor, and appropriate family and friends, but the copy you fill out must be an original.
A Statement from the U. S. Conference of Catholic Bishops on medical directives can be found here. Part Five deals with medical care of the dying, living wills, etc. It also defines euthanasia as "an action or omission that of itself or by intention causes death in order to alleviate suffering." This is never permitted under any circumstances. However, the same action taken to alleviate pain is acceptable as long as it is proportionate to the illness, so in the view of the Church, one should never withhold needed medication intended to alleviate suffering and pain even if there is a possibility it may hasten the end of life.
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Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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mg57
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| Joined: | Mon Oct 9th, 2006 |
| Location: | Tolland County, Connecticut USA |
| Posts: | 180 |
| First Name: | mg57 | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Infant Baptised Catholic |
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Posted: Fri Apr 13th, 2007 12:27 am |
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Christine Ann -
Here is a link to an Advance Medical Directive document, which is used in varying forms by Dioceses across the country.
You'll see some differences to the concepts and wording in living wills, -
http://www.njcathconf.com/Documents/AdvDirforHC.htm
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CajunRick
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| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Houma, Louisiana USA |
| Posts: | 5348 |
| First Name: | Rick (& Kermie) | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Lifetime Catholic, Latin Rite |
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Posted: Fri Apr 13th, 2007 01:02 am |
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mg57 wrote: Christine Ann -
Here is a link to an Advance Medical Directive document, which is used in varying forms by Dioceses across the country.
You'll see some differences to the concepts and wording in living wills, -
http://www.njcathconf.com/Documents/AdvDirforHC.htm
This document is valid for New Jersey. Louisiana has one also, which you'll find here. The New Jersey document is not valid in Louisiana, and the Louisana document is not valid in New Jersey.
The advantage of Five Wishes is that it is valid virtually everywhere in the United States. It contains a Living Will, Durable Medical Power of Attorney, and also three other sections that deal with things like the music a person would like played in his room, how he would like to be dressed, whether he prefers being warm or cool, whether he would rather be in a hospital or at home, things he would like said to his friends, wishes for funeral services and so forth. It is much more complete than just a Living Will. It allows a person to make choices by striking out or adding to the text.
The Living Wills published by the various bishops' conferences are suitable fur use in their particular state, but you have to keep up with it annually to make sure it meets current requirements, and a document from one state is likely to be worthless in another, so it cannot be relied on if a person moves or gets sick while on vacation.
Five Wishes is a program virtually everyone in the U.S. has agreed on, and more states come online every year. That's why I recommend it.
____________________
Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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mg57
Member
| Joined: | Mon Oct 9th, 2006 |
| Location: | Tolland County, Connecticut USA |
| Posts: | 180 |
| First Name: | mg57 | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Infant Baptised Catholic |
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Posted: Fri Apr 13th, 2007 10:16 am |
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Some additional information -
http://www.ewtn.com/expert/answers/end_of_life_decisions.htm
Q. What can a person do to ensure that their wishes and their religious beliefs are respected by their family, medical personnel and the courts?
A. The best way is by means of an Advance Directive which states the patients wishes with respect to aggressive medical treatment. There are two basic kinds, a Living Will by itself or an Advance Directive with a Durable Power of Attorney (or Proxy) for Health Care Decisions. The merits of each are as follows:
1. Living Will. By this document a person decides completely in advance whether they want to be kept alive by technology. It is a "yes" or "no" statement, which then places the matter in the hands of the medical community. Many Catholic bishops and moralists consider this an unsatisfactory approach, as it does not provide for unforeseen circumstances. Despite the enthusiasm of the media, many medical professionals, and sadly even some Catholic institutions, Living Wills are NOT the way to go! 2. Advance Directive with a Durable Power of Attorney or Health Care Proxy. These documents give to a friend or family member the authority to make health care decisions according to one's mind as expressed in an Advance Directive. By appointing an agent, or giving someone durable power of attorney, the patient allows for unforeseen circumstances. By stating in an Advance Directive that one wants Catholic teaching adhered to, one can ensure that neither the agent or the medical institution will disregard that teaching. Together they ensure that a trusted person, rather than strangers, will make circumstantially appropriate decisions, in keeping with the Faith.
http://www.usccb.org/bishops/directives.shtml
http://www.usccb.org/bishops/directives.shtml#partfive
http://www.usccb.org/prolife/issues/euthanas/nutindex.shtml
God Bless.
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CajunRick
Network Helper
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Houma, Louisiana USA |
| Posts: | 5348 |
| First Name: | Rick (& Kermie) | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Lifetime Catholic, Latin Rite |
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Posted: Fri Apr 13th, 2007 11:56 am |
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mg57 wrote: 1. Living Will. By this document a person decides completely in advance whether they want to be kept alive by technology. It is a "yes" or "no" statement, which then places the matter in the hands of the medical community.
This is certainly true of the standard Living Will which a medical facility will ask you to sign whenever you have a medical procedure. That's why advance planning is necessary to make sure the documents provide adequate information so that, taken together, they say exactly what you want them to say.
____________________
Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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Christine Ann
Member
| Joined: | Mon Oct 9th, 2006 |
| Location: | An Hours' Drive From Cincinnati, Ohio USA |
| Posts: | 118 |
| First Name: | Christine Ann | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | former Lutheran, Baptist, now Catholic. |
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Posted: Sat Apr 14th, 2007 08:37 pm |
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Dear Rick,
Thank you so much for the information. I've ordered a Five Wishes at Aging with Dignity and am looking forward to seeing how it is done. If I like what I see...I'll be ordering more. It would be such a relief to know my spiritual needs were met as well as the physical. These are not decisions I want handled just "however". And I pray that my parents and husband will agree to doing this as well.
You are such a wonderful source of information!!!
Christine Ann
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CajunRick
Network Helper
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
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Posted: Sat May 5th, 2007 07:07 pm |
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For those interested in end of life planning, I still recommend "Five Wishes"; however, I've just learned that Priests for Life have a "Will to Live" for each state in the United States. It covers specific wording and takes into account such things as pain relief in case of terminal illness. The wording in these documents would fit quite well within "Five Wishes" or the document itself can be used as a supplement or adjunct to it.
You can find the links to each state on the Priests for Life web site.
____________________
Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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