Suicidal ?

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kesa82

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Is it necessarily suicidal behavior to forgo expensive medical treatment, treatment that didn’t even exist 50 years ago, treatment that did not exist for 10,000 years, so there was not, until yesterday, any moral issue, to let nature take its course?
 
The Church distinguishes between ordinary means and extraordinary means. A person is morally required to use ordinary means to save their life, but not extraordinary means. However, the classification as to which is which changes.

See here.
 
Hmm. So to use an example, I knew a woman who was on dialysis for many years. Her disease would ultimately be terminal, but not perhaps for some time, and she was in a lot of pain. The dialysis was a real trial for her. She decided to stop dialysis, and died that week. Where would this situation stand?
 
dj,

I wanted to say thank you for the links. I am enjoying the blog very much.

To the OP, God doesn’t expect anymore from us than we are capable of. The difference between extraordinary and ordinary means of treatment is essential to this question.

Karen
 
Bluegoat said:
Hmm. So to use an example, I knew a woman who was on dialysis for many years. Her disease would ultimately be terminal, but not perhaps for some time, and she was in a lot of pain. The dialysis was a real trial for her. She decided to stop dialysis, and died that week. Where would this situation stand?
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There was a similar case in Southern California many years back. As I recall it was generally agreed that the patient had the option of refusing the treatment when it became unduly burdensome to him.

It is important to note burdensome to him; not burdensome to his care givers, relatives, heirs etc.
 
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