DIFFICULT DECISIONS

JOURNAL QUESTION: It’s Friday, May 15th at 11am. A bunch of the seniors hop in their car, head to the closest In N’ Out for some Double-Doubles, fries and shakes. There’s a big pileup on 680 and one of the guys forgot his seatbelt and flies through the windshield. When he gets to the hospital the doctors claim that he is in a coma and his chances of recovery are slim. What would you do if you were one of the friends in the car with him? What would you want the family to do?

Declaration on Euthanasia “In such situations, when death is clearly imminent and inevitable, one can in [good] conscience ‘refuse forms of treatment that would only secure a precarious and burdensome prolongation of life, so long as the normal care due to the sick person in similar cases is not interrupted.” (#65)

What are ordinary means? According to John Paul II, the following are ordinary means: Nutrition Hydration Cleanliness Warmth March 20, 2004

Evangelium Vitae “Even when not motivated by a selfish refusal to be burdened with the life of someone who is suffering, euthanasia must be called a false mercy, and indeed a disturbing perversion of mercy. True compassion leads to sharing another’s pain; it does not kill the person whose suffering WE cannot bear.” (#66)

Types of Euthanasia… Euthanasia is an act or omission which of itself and by intention causes death, with the purpose of eliminating suffering ACTIVE EUTHANASIA: Death is caused by a direct human act. Example: PASSIVE EUTHANASIA: Death is caused by an omission of a medical intervention.

STAYIN’ ALIVE… EXTRAORDINARY MEANS DISPROPORTIONATE MEANS: Interventions that are often experimental that prolong life DISPROPORTIONATE MEANS: Means that don’t offer a reasonable hope of benefit or that create an excessive burden ORDINARY MEANS: Standard medical interventions (See JP II’s list of these) PROPORTIONATE MEANS: Means that offer a reasonable hope for benefit without an excessive burden

ADDITIONAL TERMINOLOGY ASSISSTED SUICIDE: When medical personnel prescribe a deadly amount of medication with the intent to help the person commit suicide. PVS: Persistent Vegetative State A condition in which a person loses the higher cerebral powers of the brain but still maintains activity in the brain stem

Questions to Consider: Are we prolonging someone’s life or prolonging someone’s death? Are we considering OUR needs to avoid suffering or THEIRS? What is an ordinary medical treatment for a person in a given situation?