Respect for Life at the Respect for Life at the End of LifeEnd of Life

Washington State Catholic ConferenceWashington State Catholic Conference

GoalsGoals

A.A. Present Catholic Teaching on Present Catholic Teaching on LifeLife

B.B. Tell Our Stories Tell Our Stories

C.C. Learn about Making Moral Learn about Making Moral DecisionsDecisions

D.D. Review Advance DirectivesReview Advance Directives

E.E. Engage in the Assisted Suicide Engage in the Assisted Suicide DebateDebate

FOUNDATIONAL PRINCIPLES FOUNDATIONAL PRINCIPLES FOR FOR

CATHOLIC TEACHING ON LIFECATHOLIC TEACHING ON LIFE

First Principle:First Principle:

GOD’S DOMINION AND GOD’S DOMINION AND HUMAN STEWARDSHIPHUMAN STEWARDSHIP

God is the Creator and human persons God is the Creator and human persons owe their creation to God.owe their creation to God.

Human life is a gift, a sacred trust.Human life is a gift, a sacred trust.

Human persons have a right to the Human persons have a right to the useuse of the gift of life, of the gift of life, notnot a right to a right to dominion over life.dominion over life.

Human responsibility for life is one of Human responsibility for life is one of stewardship, not ownership.stewardship, not ownership.

Second PrincipleSecond Principle THE SANCTITY OF LIFETHE SANCTITY OF LIFE

Each person has worth and Each person has worth and dignity because she or he is made dignity because she or he is made in the image of God.in the image of God.

The value and dignity of human The value and dignity of human life result solely from God’s life result solely from God’s creating and sustaining love.creating and sustaining love.

Two obligations flow from the Two obligations flow from the Sanctity of Life principle:Sanctity of Life principle:

The obligation to nurture and The obligation to nurture and support life support life

The obligation not to harm or The obligation not to harm or destroy lifedestroy life

Third Principle:Third Principle:

THE PROHIBITION AGAINST KILLINGTHE PROHIBITION AGAINST KILLING Human persons have an obligation to protect Human persons have an obligation to protect

life and an obligation not to destroy it.life and an obligation not to destroy it.

The Commandment “You shall not kill” does The Commandment “You shall not kill” does not prohibit all killing but only allows it for the not prohibit all killing but only allows it for the protection of the person and the community.protection of the person and the community.

The Commandment protects the bonds of a The Commandment protects the bonds of a community by prohibiting the arbitrary taking community by prohibiting the arbitrary taking of life by an individual.of life by an individual.

To clarify this principle, it is To clarify this principle, it is necessary to distinguish between necessary to distinguish between killing and allowing to die. killing and allowing to die.

Killing is any intentional action or Killing is any intentional action or omission bringing about the death of omission bringing about the death of another.another.

Allowing to die is withholding or Allowing to die is withholding or withdrawing futile or over-burdensome withdrawing futile or over-burdensome treatment.treatment.

Principle of Ordinary and Principle of Ordinary and Extraordinary Means.Extraordinary Means. ““Ordinary means” are all medicines, Ordinary means” are all medicines,

treatments, procedures, and technology treatments, procedures, and technology that offer a reasonable hope of benefit and that offer a reasonable hope of benefit and which can be obtained without excessive which can be obtained without excessive pain, expense or burden.pain, expense or burden.

““Extraordinary means” refers to all Extraordinary means” refers to all medicines, treatments, procedures and medicines, treatments, procedures and technology that technology that do notdo not offer a reasonable offer a reasonable hope of benefit or cannot be obtained or hope of benefit or cannot be obtained or used without excessive pain, expense or used without excessive pain, expense or burden.burden.

Catholics have a moral obligation to use Catholics have a moral obligation to use ordinary means to preserve their lives. They ordinary means to preserve their lives. They also may choose to use extraordinary means, also may choose to use extraordinary means, but they have no obligation to do so. but they have no obligation to do so.

““But normally one is held to use only ordinary But normally one is held to use only ordinary means…according to the circumstances of means…according to the circumstances of persons, places, times, and culture – that is to persons, places, times, and culture – that is to say, means that do not involve any grave say, means that do not involve any grave burden for oneself or another.”burden for oneself or another.” (Pope Pius XII) (Pope Pius XII)

A treatment that is medically A treatment that is medically ordinary can be morally ordinary can be morally extraordinary. This is a careful extraordinary. This is a careful decision based on respect for the decision based on respect for the God given dignity of the person and God given dignity of the person and on the moral principles enunciated on the moral principles enunciated by the Catholic Church.by the Catholic Church.

Principle of Benefit and Principle of Benefit and BurdenBurden

There must be due proportion There must be due proportion between the benefit to be between the benefit to be achieved and the burden borne to achieved and the burden borne to achieve it. achieve it.

When the burden of the When the burden of the treatment outweighs the benefit, treatment outweighs the benefit, the treatment may be withdrawn.the treatment may be withdrawn.

Each of us decides the benefits and Each of us decides the benefits and burdens of treatment according to our burdens of treatment according to our own physical, mental, emotional and own physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health at the time of the spiritual health at the time of the decision. A particular treatment for decision. A particular treatment for one person may be a benefit while the one person may be a benefit while the same treatment for another person same treatment for another person may be a burden.may be a burden.

Difference between Difference between withholding treatment and withholding treatment and assisted suicideassisted suicide

Assisted suicide is participating in Assisted suicide is participating in the taking of the life of another. the taking of the life of another.

The intention is to cause death. The intention is to cause death.

The answer lies in the The answer lies in the intention:intention:

--If the intent is to cause the person to --If the intent is to cause the person to die, this is assisted suicide and not die, this is assisted suicide and not morally permissible. morally permissible.

--But if the intention is to allow nature to --But if the intention is to allow nature to take its course, that is, to allow the take its course, that is, to allow the person to die of his/her underlying person to die of his/her underlying disease process without unnecessarily disease process without unnecessarily prolonging the inevitable process of prolonging the inevitable process of dying, then it is allowable to withhold or dying, then it is allowable to withhold or withdraw a treatment or procedure. withdraw a treatment or procedure.

It is also necessary to clarify It is also necessary to clarify intention:intention:

Intention distinguishes what one does Intention distinguishes what one does from what one allows to happen.from what one allows to happen.

The prohibition against killing applies The prohibition against killing applies to direct or “intentional” killing; a to direct or “intentional” killing; a deliberately caused death.deliberately caused death.

Intention, not consequences, Intention, not consequences, determines a morally right or wrong determines a morally right or wrong act.act.

Each decision must apply the Each decision must apply the principles, but must be made on principles, but must be made on an individual basis after an individual basis after evaluating all of the evaluating all of the circumstances.circumstances.

Fourth Principle:Fourth Principle:

INTERDEPENDENCEINTERDEPENDENCE Human persons are created as social Human persons are created as social

beings, a community of loving persons.beings, a community of loving persons.

Because we live in a community of Because we live in a community of interdependent persons, no one person’s interdependent persons, no one person’s freedom is absolute.freedom is absolute.

Other persons’ welfare must be taken Other persons’ welfare must be taken into consideration.into consideration.

Individual freedom must be balanced with Individual freedom must be balanced with the common good.the common good.

Scandal.Scandal.

Our principles are based on Our principles are based on reason informed by faith, but our reason informed by faith, but our behavior must give witness to our behavior must give witness to our convictions.convictions.

Conscience FormationConscience Formation

Gather factsGather facts Reflect on Scripture and Catholic Reflect on Scripture and Catholic

Social TeachingSocial Teaching Determine the consistency with Determine the consistency with

fundamental moral principlesfundamental moral principles Examine your motives and emotionsExamine your motives and emotions Discuss with othersDiscuss with others PrayPray Make a decisionMake a decision

Living Will (Health Care Living Will (Health Care Directive)Directive)

A living will is a written directive A living will is a written directive that indicates your preferences that indicates your preferences for treatment or non-treatment in for treatment or non-treatment in the event that you are terminally the event that you are terminally ill and death will occur in a short ill and death will occur in a short time.time.

Durable Power of Attorney Durable Power of Attorney for Health Carefor Health Care

A durable power of attorney for health A durable power of attorney for health care is a written document that allows care is a written document that allows you to designate someone to make you to designate someone to make health care decisions on your behalf if health care decisions on your behalf if you are unable to make them yourself. you are unable to make them yourself. The person you choose is usually The person you choose is usually called your “agent.”called your “agent.”

Review booklet,Review booklet, A Guide to Making Good A Guide to Making Good Decisions for the End of Life: Living Will Decisions for the End of Life: Living Will and Durable Power of Attorney for Health and Durable Power of Attorney for Health CareCare

A.A. How do I decide to sign a living will?How do I decide to sign a living will?

B.B. Who do I appoint as Durable Power of Who do I appoint as Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care?Attorney for Health Care?

C.C. What do I include on the forms?What do I include on the forms?

D.D. Who do I tell about the forms?Who do I tell about the forms?

E.E. To whom do I give the forms?To whom do I give the forms?

Principles can guide us Principles can guide us when we talk about end of when we talk about end of lifelife

The topic touches all of usThe topic touches all of us We all have stories that influence We all have stories that influence

usus Emotions and experiences Emotions and experiences

influence our perspectiveinfluence our perspective But do stories and individual But do stories and individual

cases make good law?cases make good law?

What is the function of law?What is the function of law?

It enables us to live together as a It enables us to live together as a society, a peoplesociety, a people

It upholds our common valuesIt upholds our common values

It protects vulnerable and It protects vulnerable and defenseless peopledefenseless people

Law is for the Good of Law is for the Good of SocietySociety

The common good impels us to limit The common good impels us to limit some legitimate choices: speech, some legitimate choices: speech, traffic, etc.traffic, etc.

The law is highly symbolic, The law is highly symbolic, normative. normative.

That which is legal becomes that That which is legal becomes that which is moral.which is moral.

Law is educative. Legalization Law is educative. Legalization implies that the action is good.implies that the action is good.

Law promulgatesLaw promulgatesCOMMON VALUESCOMMON VALUES

LifeLife

LibertyLiberty

FreedomFreedom

Law PROTECTS Law PROTECTS VULNERABLE and VULNERABLE and DEFENSELESS PEOPLEDEFENSELESS PEOPLE ChildrenChildren

SeniorsSeniors

Mentally ImpairedMentally Impaired

People at the margins of societyPeople at the margins of society

Reasons for NOT CHANGING Reasons for NOT CHANGING THE LAW on assisted THE LAW on assisted suicide?suicide?Potential HarmPotential Harm

1. Does the potential harm outweigh the 1. Does the potential harm outweigh the potential good?potential good?

2. Can we create enough or adequate 2. Can we create enough or adequate safeguards?safeguards?

Legalizing physician assisted Legalizing physician assisted suicide does not meet the test of suicide does not meet the test of good lawgood law

The common good is not served.The common good is not served.

Common values are not upheld.Common values are not upheld.

Vulnerable people are not Vulnerable people are not adequately protected.adequately protected.

Principles and Good Law can Principles and Good Law can motivate usmotivate us

As a compassionate people we As a compassionate people we must seek life-giving ways to care must seek life-giving ways to care

for dying persons among us.for dying persons among us.

Initiative 1000Initiative 1000

Initiative 1000, as proposed, would Initiative 1000, as proposed, would legalize physician assisted suicide legalize physician assisted suicide in Washington State. in Washington State.

To qualify for physician assisted To qualify for physician assisted suicide, a patient must: suicide, a patient must:

Be at least 18 years old Be at least 18 years old Prove WA. State residencyProve WA. State residency Be diagnosed with a terminal illness that Be diagnosed with a terminal illness that

will lead to death within six monthswill lead to death within six months Be mentally competent to make health Be mentally competent to make health

care decisionscare decisions Make decision voluntarilyMake decision voluntarily

I-1000 Would Legalize I-1000 Would Legalize Assisted Suicide:Assisted Suicide: I-1000 changes the moral stance I-1000 changes the moral stance

against the taking of innocent human against the taking of innocent human lifelife

I-1000 promotes the belief that if a I-1000 promotes the belief that if a person feels as if they are a “burden,” person feels as if they are a “burden,” killing oneself should be considered.killing oneself should be considered.

I-1000 suggests that the answer to I-1000 suggests that the answer to pain, loneliness, or poor quality of life, pain, loneliness, or poor quality of life, is to kill oneself.is to kill oneself.

I-1000 is a dangerous I-1000 is a dangerous initiative:initiative:

I-1000 places vulnerable people, such as the disabled, I-1000 places vulnerable people, such as the disabled, the poor and elderly, at risk for abuse.the poor and elderly, at risk for abuse.

I-1000 does not I-1000 does not requirerequire notification of spouses or notification of spouses or family members in cases where someone requests family members in cases where someone requests suicide. Loved ones could be assisted in their suicide suicide. Loved ones could be assisted in their suicide and you might never know it until after their death.and you might never know it until after their death.

I-1000 actually makes it easy for a depressed loved I-1000 actually makes it easy for a depressed loved one to commit suicide. The initiative does not one to commit suicide. The initiative does not requirerequire a psychological evaluation of those requesting a psychological evaluation of those requesting assisted suicide, even though depression is a normal assisted suicide, even though depression is a normal reaction to receiving a terminal diagnosis.reaction to receiving a terminal diagnosis.

The Challenge for us as The Challenge for us as Catholics:Catholics:

How do we support persons in a How do we support persons in a terminal condition?terminal condition?

– As individualsAs individuals

– As parishionersAs parishioners

And if I go and prepare a And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will place for you, I will

come back again and come back again and take you to myself, so take you to myself, so that where I am you that where I am you

also may be.also may be.

~ ~ John 14:3John 14:3