UNDERSTANDING THE CATHOLIC DECLARATION ON LIFE AND DEATH
BULLETIN EXCERPTS
Note
to Bulletin Coordinator:
Please
add to each bulletin announcement: “For
a copy of the Catholic Declaration on
Life and Death, go to www.dovrespectlife.org or call 941-441-1112.” You can call the number and order a supply
so you can make them available in the church/parish office or you can print
them yourself.
Do you have a Catholic Living Will?
The
Catholic Declaration on Life and Death
is a health care advance directive for
What Is an Advance Directive?
A health care advance directive is a written or oral statement made and
witnessed in advance of serious illness or injury to address medical situations
that may arise when a person becomes unable to make one’s own decisions. Executing an advance directive exercises good
stewardship over the gift of life.
Forms of Advance Directives
There
are two forms of advance directives: the designation
of health care surrogate, which authorizes a person to make decisions for
the incapacitated patient, and the living
will, which gives instructions to physicians and caregivers regarding
medical care and treatment at the end of life.
The Catholic Declaration on Life
and Death merges both forms into one directive.
Are you 18 or Older?
Every
adult, 18 years of age or older, should choose at least one health care surrogate
and designate this choice in writing.
Unexpected health crises often involve complex treatment options, and
having a surrogate who is prepared and authorized to make decisions for the
patient helps to ensure the patient's wishes are respected.
Choosing your Health Care
Surrogate
A
health care surrogate should be chosen carefully as someone who will represent
the patient’s wishes regarding medical care and treatment or act in the
patient’s best interest if those wishes are unknown.
Living Wills
The “Living Will” section of the Catholic Declaration on Life and Death gives the surrogate a basic framework for understanding the patient’s wishes regarding end-of-life care or treatment.
Plan Now for Future Medical Needs
Discussing goals, hopes, options and concerns with one's health care surrogate and family will provide the surrogate helpful information and can comfort all involved if and when future decisions are made on one's behalf.
Living Wills
A living will specifies one's wishes should a person become unable
to express those wishes at the time health care decisions are needed at the end
of life.
Do You Have a Catholic Living Will?
There are many forms of living wills, some of which are not
consistent with Catholic teaching. The
Bishops of Florida approved a revised Catholic Declaration on Life and Death in
2006 which includes a living will and designation of a health care surrogate.
Living Will Additions
Space is provided in the Catholic Declaration on Life and Death to
add personal directions. Caution and
care should be taken in making additions, as certain instructions set in
writing could be problematic in some unforeseen circumstances. For instance, a particular treatment that may
not be desirable long term could be life saving and health-restoring when used
for a short time.
Making Medical Decisions
One is obliged to use "ordinary" (proportionate) means
to preserve life. However, one may
forego "extraordinary" (disproportionate) means - those that in the
patient's judgment do not offer a reasonable hope of benefit, entail excessive
burden or entail excessive expense to the family or community.
Health Care Planning
The best way to make sure wishes are known and followed is
to designate and prepare one’s own surrogate in advance of a medical emergency.