When does the point of dying begin?

[Lou_F]

When does the Church say the point of dying begins? If someone diagnosed with cancer is given 6 months to live, that does not necessarily mean he’s dying of cancer at that point in time. He has a terminal illness.

It seems that dying begins when the major organs that sustain life shut down, which could all happen within a matter of minutes before a persons death (in this case, the person diagnosed)

Please clarify.

 

[Joe_5859]

When does the Church say the point of dying begins? If someone diagnosed with cancer is given 6 months to live, that does not necessarily mean he’s dying of cancer at that point in time. He has a terminal illness.

It seems that dying begins when the major organs that sustain life shut down, which could all happen within a matter of minutes before a persons death (in this case, the person diagnosed)

Please clarify.

I’m not sure there’s any statment of the Church that gets as specific as you are probably looking for. What difference would the answer make?

In one sense, we’re dying the moment we’re born. Everyday, we’re one day closer to death!

In another sense, we don’t really know for sure when we’re dying till we’re actually dead!

 

[rlg94086]

When does the Church say the point of dying begins? If someone diagnosed with cancer is given 6 months to live, that does not necessarily mean he’s dying of cancer at that point in time. He has a terminal illness.

It seems that dying begins when the major organs that sustain life shut down, which could all happen within a matter of minutes before a persons death (in this case, the person diagnosed)

Please clarify.

Hi Lou,

I think that is more a question of semantics, not Church teaching. If someone says they are dying from cancer, they could be cured, in which case they are no longer dying from cancer. You could wait until their final moments to use the term…it’s up to the individuals involved.

 

[Indyann]

I don’t think the Church would make such a statement.

I do know that in order to qualify for “hospice care”, the insurance companies require a letter from the physician that the patient is not expected to live longer than six months.

Then, if the patient is still alive at the end of that six month perios, another letter is required.

My sister lived 16 months after she went into hospice care.

 

[Newbie2]

This would seem to be a philosophical question.

One possible answer could be that we’re on the path to dying the day we’re born, right?

The other end of the spectrum would be within a few heartbeats of death.



Since we don’t ever really know when exactly we’ll be dead, there’s no way to know when we’re really dying, right?

I agree that the Church has left this question alone.

 

[rlg94086]

This would seem to be a philosophical question.

One possible answer could be that we’re on the path to dying the day we’re born, right?

The other end of the spectrum would be within a few heartbeats of death.



Since we don’t ever really know when exactly we’ll be dead, there’s no way to know when we’re really dying, right?

I agree that the Church has left this question alone.

If you were dying in a forest and there was nobody around, would you still be dying?

 

[mlchance]

One possible answer could be that we’re on the path to dying the day we’re born, right?

Some famous playwright (Samuel Beckett?) opined words to the effect of, “A woman gives birth straddling a grave.”

– Mark L. Chance.

(Can you tell I’m not a morning person?)

 

[Seatuck]

When does the Church say the point of dying begins? If someone diagnosed with cancer is given 6 months to live, that does not necessarily mean he’s dying of cancer at that point in time. He has a terminal illness.

It seems that dying begins when the major organs that sustain life shut down, which could all happen within a matter of minutes before a persons death (in this case, the person diagnosed)

Please clarify.

Well, since the church requires us to provide nutrition and hydration up until the point the major organs start shutting down then this is your point. The church fights for life until the last possible moment.From the physical perspective of course. I’ll leave the philosophical musings to everyone else. We pretty much are to live each as if it is our last from a spiritual level.

 

[drafdog]

Dying begins the moment you’re born.

Matthew