Death and Dying and Catholic Health Care Services Directives-Ethical or not

Based on the ethical and religious directives listed by the USCCB, I would have to say that I agree with the majority of the directives listed.



I agree that patients should be informed of all of their options regarding their illness and inevitable death which then would allow them to discuss options with their loved ones and express their choices on how and what treatments to accept so long as the treatment provides for a significant measure of comfort during their ordeal leading up to their death.



I also agree that that a person should not be required to have any burdensome treatments, if they so choose, that would cause undue stress (physically, emotionally, spiritually or financially) or pain on their loved ones or themselves.



I also agree that a person should have the right to choose whether or not to continue with life-sustaining procedures since I believe that it the full right of a person to choose how they would want to live out their last days or months.



I agree with these directives because of the experience I have had with several family members living through painful and debilitating cancers; personally my mother. Through the experience of watching her illness take over her life and know how burdensome she felt to my brother and I she made sure that any decisions were mutually agreed upon and the easiest on my brother and I (as if any decision could be easy when watching this disease consume your mom)!



I stand by the directive to encourage people to donate organs since there is such a shortage of organs today. My belief is that we should all be required to make a decision on organ donation at the time we apply for a driver's license. If there are religious beliefs that would keep a person from being able to donate then the application should allow for an opt-out due to religious beliefs, but any other person should have to decide when they apply for their license.



I do not agree, however, that if someone is suffering and the pain cannot be alleviated, they should be forced to reconcile with the 'redemptive suffering'. That is outright torture to me, since I watched how much pain my mother was in and it wasn't until she was under the care of hospice that her pain was alleviated and she was able to function without crying daily!



I believe the human right to choose whatever a person thinks is best for themselves and their family regardless of religious belief. I also believe that person should discuss their choices with their loved ones so that there is no issue of confusion on what that person would want during their ordeal.



Until you have walked a mile in someone's shoes you really can't say what or how you would behave until that moment is upon you!