Catholic teaching on life, death, organ transplantation and other important related issues

A series of related articles at RenewAmerica.com  by Dr. Paul A Byrne, M.D.

Submitted by Mark H.

Real Life Experience With Hospice and Advance Health Care Directives Reveals A Flawed System Skewed Towards Death.

The trio consisted of Larry’s physician, a “hospital social worker,” and the head of “hospice care.” They informed me that, in their opinion, Larry was not going to survive, and that only the most extreme measures could prolong his life, and even then it would probably only be for a short time. Furthermore, any operations or chemotherapy or other treatments could very well kill him more rapidly, considering his delicate condition. Considering all this, they recommended transferring Larry to “palliative care.”

When I seemed confused by this term, they explained that “palliative care” meant that the hospital would no longer try to diagnose or treat his condition, but rather would just let him drift toward death at his own pace. The only steps the doctors would take would be to ease his suffering with potent painkillers.

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