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Bonita
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| Joined: | Mon Nov 20th, 2006 |
| Location: | Texas USA |
| Posts: | 15 |
| First Name: | Bonita | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Catholic |
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Posted: Mon Nov 20th, 2006 03:30 pm |
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| I am wondering if a Catholic can morally have a Living Will. I am not an old or sick person, but my attorney thinks everyone should one. I am wondering if it is morally acceptable for a Catholic to sign one and what limits should one put upon it.
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Luke12:48
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| Joined: | Sat Sep 30th, 2006 |
| Location: | Southeast, Pennsylvania USA |
| Posts: | 120 |
| First Name: | Kate | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | cradle catholic, left for many years, returned June 2006 |
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Posted: Mon Nov 20th, 2006 05:49 pm |
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I don't know if there is an official position on this but I have worked in health care and can tell you that living wills usually do not advocate any action in which a life is taken but usually prevent what is called heroic measures when death is near. That being said, there are many different varieties of living will and some may go further. Another option is a durable power of attorney for health care decisions (there are also financial vedrsions) which transfers decision making capability to another individual if you are unable to decide for yourself. You have the option to appoint anyone you feel would really know what you desire. This is also useful for non-terminal situations where as a living will is not always useful in those cases. I am sure someone else here will provide you with the official answer.
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CajunRick
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| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Houma, Louisiana USA |
| Posts: | 5353 |
| First Name: | Rick (& Kermie) | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Lifetime Catholic, Latin Rite |
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Posted: Mon Nov 20th, 2006 05:59 pm |
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Bonita wrote: I am wondering if a Catholic can morally have a Living Will. I am not an old or sick person, but my attorney thinks everyone should one. I am wondering if it is morally acceptable for a Catholic to sign one and what limits should one put upon it.
Absolutely. The Church encourages Living Wills.
There is an excellent version of a Living Will available from the group Aging with Dignity. It includes not only a Living Will and a Medical Power of Attorney that is legally binding in most states without an attorney, but also three other sections that allows an expression of wishes on other topics dealing with end of life issues, such as what music you would like to have played in your room during your final hours, whether you would prefer to die at home or in a hospital, what you would like to have said at your funeral, etc. It is a masterpiece. It costs a whole dollar, which is a lot cheaper than an attorney. Watch the online videos for more information.
The only thing that a Catholic cannot allow is euthanasia. The Church encourages medication for pain management, even if there is a possibility that such medication might shorten life as an unintended consequence. Also, the Church encourages organ donation and even donation of the entire body to science.
I spent the last few years as a hospice chaplain, so this is an issue with which I am very familiar. My wife and I have decided to donate our bodies for the training of medical students, and my daughter has agreed to abide by our wishes. She has been given very specific instructions as to the memorials we want instead of tombs. I want a park bench made of marble or concrete sitting under a pecan tree which is to be planted and maintained by the youth group in my parish. It will be engraved with my name and the dates of my birth and death, along with the inscription, "We are a better church because he lived" or something similar. I have also written specific instructions for my memorial liturgy (fourth Eucharistic Prayer), who I want to preach the homily, etc.
So yes, Catholics are encouraged to plan as much as possible for their entrance into eternity, hopefully including living a life of holiness in preparation of meeting our Maker.
Addendum: The Bishops of Louisiana issued a Pastoral several years ago and revised and reissued it this year called Approaching Death, The Moral Choices. It includes a Catholic Living Will that is valid in Louisiana, and may be valid in other states. In Louisiana, it requires two witnesses but not an attorney. The witnesses cannot be anyone who is involved, such as the designated caregiver or anyone who will benefit financially by your death. You'll find it available for download here.
Last edited on Mon Nov 20th, 2006 06:10 pm by CajunRick
____________________
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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CajunRick
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| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Houma, Louisiana USA |
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Posted: Sat May 5th, 2007 07:09 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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Intercessor
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| Joined: | Tue Sep 25th, 2007 |
| Location: | Southcentral, Kentucky USA |
| Posts: | 1238 |
| First Name: | Becky | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Southern Baptist, Catholic |
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Posted: Thu Oct 18th, 2007 01:46 pm |
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Regarding my mother's living will--
She has a specific prohibition on feeding tubes or other artificially supplied feeding.
What does the Church require of me regarding decisions made about her care, at the end?
Will I be allowed to honor her wishes?
Must I see that a new document is drawn up naming a non-Catholic as her health care surrogate?
Last edited on Thu Oct 18th, 2007 01:47 pm by Intercessor
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"He who will persevere unto the end is not he who will never fall, but he who after every fall will humble himself and rise again, relying on the infinite strength of God." Divine Intimacy, p. 885 Father Gabriel, O.C.D.
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CajunRick
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Posted: Thu Oct 18th, 2007 02:25 pm |
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Intercessor wrote: Regarding my mother's living will--
The Church's teaching on providing nutrition is not intended for those who are at the end of their lives from other conditions. It is intended to indicate that those who would otherwise survive should not be deprived of nutrition and hydration.
If, at the end of her life, your mother has Alzheimer's or dementia but is otherwise in good health and could continue to live for a period of years, months, or even weeks, it would be murder to starve her to death. If she has cancer or another terminal illness (including extreme old age) and her death is near, her bodily processes will have begun to shut down, and forcing nutrition and hydration on her would be a cruelty.
If you are the person responsible for your mother's medical decisions, you are not bound to follow her living will, but you should certainly take it into consideration. Do what you believe is right for your mother. Honor her wishes to the best of your ability. Consult a priest if you feel it is necessary. But the important thing when you meet your Savior is that you will be able to honestly say you honored your mother.
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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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Intercessor
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| Joined: | Tue Sep 25th, 2007 |
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| First Name: | Becky | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Southern Baptist, Catholic |
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Posted: Thu Oct 18th, 2007 02:40 pm |
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| And I do not have to protest a DNR order as long as she is near death-- correct?
____________________
"He who will persevere unto the end is not he who will never fall, but he who after every fall will humble himself and rise again, relying on the infinite strength of God." Divine Intimacy, p. 885 Father Gabriel, O.C.D.
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CajunRick
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| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
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| First Name: | Rick (& Kermie) | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Lifetime Catholic, Latin Rite |
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Posted: Thu Oct 18th, 2007 03:07 pm |
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Intercessor wrote: And I do not have to protest a DNR order as long as she is near death-- correct?
Correct. DNR orders should be protested for young, otherwise healthy individuals who code unexpectedly. A DNR is perfectly acceptable for those of advanced years or with terminal conditions.
____________________
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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Intercessor
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| Joined: | Tue Sep 25th, 2007 |
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Posted: Thu Oct 18th, 2007 03:27 pm |
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| Thanks, Rick. Last edited on Mon Nov 12th, 2007 04:20 am by Intercessor
____________________
"He who will persevere unto the end is not he who will never fall, but he who after every fall will humble himself and rise again, relying on the infinite strength of God." Divine Intimacy, p. 885 Father Gabriel, O.C.D.
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