Help for Hospice?

[DVIN_CKS]

What are some good questions to ask hospice service companies to make sure that they uphold the Church’s teaching on euthanasia etc… I’ve heard that some groups say that they help people “die with dignity” which can be code for allowing patients (or family) to participate in passive euthanasia.

The reason I’m wondering is because I work at my church and got a call from a secular hospice service who is looking for volunteers. They want me to put a bulletin announcement in our parish bulletin in the hopes of getting some volunteers. I just want to make sure that I’m not helping to promote a hospice service that may not be in line with Catholic teaching.

Any advice?
P.S. I plan on speaking with my pastor about this also.

 

[LSK]

I would say, “I am a practicing Catholic. The person you will be caring for is a practicing Catholic. What do you do to make sure you adhere to our teachings so as to be supportive of the patient during a difficult, painful and sometimes scary time?”

Then let them tell YOU.

 

[Cracker_Mom]

What are some good questions to ask hospice service companies to make sure that they uphold the Church’s teaching on euthanasia etc… I’ve heard that some groups say that they help people “die with dignity” which can be code for allowing patients (or family) to participate in passive euthanasia.

The reason I’m wondering is because I work at my church and got a call from a secular hospice service who is looking for volunteers. They want me to put a bulletin announcement in our parish bulletin in the hopes of getting some volunteers. I just want to make sure that I’m not helping to promote a hospice service that may not be in line with Catholic teaching.

Any advice?
P.S. I plan on speaking with my pastor about this also.

There are some troubling philosophies in the hospice movement & asking questions re. a particular hospice service is wise.
If you look at the history of hospice, especially some of the individuals who have influenced it like Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, there is certainly a New Age perception of death promoted.
In these economically strained times I’d also be concerned with any pressure to “ease” the patient into a quicker demise.Locally we’ve heard stories of euthanasia being offered to families in round-about ways.
Catholic involvement in hospice is a good thing, though.

 

[Teakafrog]

I’d ask them directly–“Do you ever ‘help’ someone pass quicker?” or how ever you want to phrase it. If they get offended by the question, that is a good sign.

I must say though, hospice is a wonderful thing. They helped us with my Grandpa (who was living with us) and we couldn’t have taken care of him without them. My mom is now a hospice volunteer, and she also gets a lot of good out of helping people (both patients and their families) when they need it most.

 

[SJG1759]

I’d ask them directly–“Do you ever ‘help’ someone pass quicker?” or how ever you want to phrase it. If they get offended by the question, that is a good sign.

Not necessarily. Some might feel the same way as we do about euthanasia and think that the very suggestion that they could be involved in such a horrible thing is offensive.