End of life question...

[natewhipple]

How would you respond?

“i guess what i’m saying is this. if there were a scenario where I was definitely going to die, but could live in intensive care for 10 more years bed ridden with tubes in me and awful pain yet completely aware of what was going on I’d want to be able to make the call as to whether or now I was allowed to pull the plug. not that i would do it necessarily, but I’d like to know I could do so without a definite ticket to hell because it would be considered suicide by the church.”

Thanks!

 

[1ke]

I would suggest both parties read these Vatican documents and discuss it from that frame of reference:

vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_19800505_euthanasia_en.html

vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_academies/acdlife/documents/rc_pa_acdlife_doc_20001209_eutanasia_en.html

vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/hlthwork/documents/rc_pc_hlthwork_doc_19950101_charter_en.html

vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_25031995_evangelium-vitae_en.html

 

[dshix]

How would you respond?

“i guess what i’m saying is this. if there were a scenario where I was definitely going to die, but could live in intensive care for 10 more years bed ridden with tubes in me and awful pain yet completely aware of what was going on I’d want to be able to make the call as to whether or now I was allowed to pull the plug. not that i would do it necessarily, but I’d like to know I could do so without a definite ticket to hell because it would be considered suicide by the church.”

Thanks!

When a person is nearing death, there are two types of care that are given: ordinary means and extraordinary means.

Ordinary means are natural necessities and easily attainable medicines and healing techniques (food, water, normal medicine, etc). Extraordinary means are additional, sometimes risky, and sometimes expensive means (extremely difficult surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, etc).

When a person is nearing death, ONLY the ordinary means are a moral requirement. It is suicide or euthanasia to pull the plug on these. But when extraordinary means are necessary to preserve life, and it is difficult or very expensive to use them, it is not obligatory to use them. This is why it isn’t a mortal sin for a person who is suffering from aggressive cancer to not take chemotherapy; it is an extraordinary means, and they may just choose to die naturally if they wish.

I hope this is helpful.

 

[SonSearcher]

How would you respond?

“i guess what i’m saying is this. if there were a scenario where I was definitely going to die, but could live in intensive care for 10 more years bed ridden with tubes in me and awful pain yet completely aware of what was going on I’d want to be able to make the call as to whether or now I was allowed to pull the plug. not that i would do it necessarily, but I’d like to know I could do so without a definite ticket to hell because it would be considered suicide by the church.”

Thanks!

I would say. Purgatory. We need white robes, you are gonna have to get 'em white somehow.

Suffer for Jesus, suffer with Jesus

 

[meltzerboy]

How would you respond?

“i guess what i’m saying is this. if there were a scenario where I was definitely going to die, but could live in intensive care for 10 more years bed ridden with tubes in me and awful pain yet completely aware of what was going on I’d want to be able to make the call as to whether or now I was allowed to pull the plug. not that i would do it necessarily, but I’d like to know I could do so without a definite ticket to hell because it would be considered suicide by the church.”

Thanks!

I would also want that option and would pray to G-d for mercy and forgiveness in ending my life due to continuous pain, as well as pain for my family, realizing it is contrary to the tenets of Judaism (as well as Catholicism, I believe).

 

[fred_conty]

How would you respond?

“i guess what i’m saying is this. if there were a scenario where I was definitely going to die, but could live in intensive care for 10 more years bed ridden with tubes in me and awful pain yet completely aware of what was going on I’d want to be able to make the call as to whether or now I was allowed to pull the plug. not that i would do it necessarily, but I’d like to know I could do so without a definite ticket to hell because it would be considered suicide by the church.”

Thanks!

There is also a living will that may be made out ahead of time giving authority to make this decision.

Just a thought.

 

[tafan]

How would you respond?

“i guess what i’m saying is this. if there were a scenario where I was definitely going to die, but could live in intensive care for 10 more years bed ridden with tubes in me and awful pain yet completely aware of what was going on I’d want to be able to make the call as to whether or now I was allowed to pull the plug. not that i would do it necessarily, but I’d like to know I could do so without a definite ticket to hell because it would be considered suicide by the church.”

Thanks!

I would respond that one should learn what the Church teaches regarding end-of-life issues and not make stupid assumptions.