"-G Kelly, "The Duty to Preserve Life," Theological Studies, 12, December 1951, p. Extraordinary means are all medicines, treatments, and operations, which cannot be obtained or used without excessive expense, pain or other inconvenience, or which if used, would not offer a reasonable hope of benefit. "Ordinary means are all medicines, treatments, and operations, which offer a reasonable hope of benefit and which can be obtained and used without excessive expense, pain, or other inconvenience.
Not involve excessive expense, pain or inconvenience. There are two criteria (both must be true) for a therapy/treatment to be ordinary and therefore obligatory:
Ethics is not reducible to consensus or tradition. In this context, ordinary is obligatory it is not "usual." And extraordinary is optional it is not "unusual." The "usual/unusual" distinction builds on what is customary in medical practice-which is merely relevant to moral judgments, not decisivein those judgments. What is the difference between "ordinary" and "extraordinary" means? However, the use of other technology may be optional depending on whether the means (treatments) are "ordinary" or "extraordinary." The Church does not promote vitalism (preserving physical life at all costs) but rather asks us to embrace the virtues of fidelity (faithfulness to those in need), compassion (suffering with those who are suffering), and individual dignity.įood and water-whether by mouth or by artificial means-are considered obligatory unless a person is imminently dying. Another term for the state of being permanently unconscious is "persistent vegetative state."ĭoes the Catholic Church require the use of all available technology to preserve life? A person who is permanently unconscious is not dying, but is unable to make healthcare decisions. A terminally ill patient may or may not be mentally competent to make medical decisions. What is the difference between terminally ill and permanently unconscious?Ī person diagnosed with a terminal illness is a person whose health is predicted to steadily decline until death-usually in six months or less. In the second case, the advance directive does not designate a proxy, but contains written instructions about various healthcare decisions which will likely need to be made. In the first case, the advance directive designates a healthcare proxy to make those healthcare decisions if necessary-and may include written instructions for certain situations. What is the difference between a living will and an advance directive?Ī durable power of attorney for healthcare and a living will are both advance directives, that is, directives regarding healthcare decision made in advance of the need to make those decisionsmost often regarding decisions at the end of life. The healthcare proxy (surrogate) should know of any advance directives that have been executed or in the case where additional decisions need to be made, should know the wishes and beliefs of the person who designated him or her as a healthcare proxy. What is a durable power of attorney for healthcare?Ī durable power of attorney for healthcare is a document that legally gives authority to a surrogate, or healthcare proxy, to make healthcare decisions for a person who is mentally incompetent or physically incapacitated. And in the absence any advance directive, medical personnel will turn to next of kin-usually spouse first, then adult children-for healthcare decisions. In the absence of a healthcare proxy, medical personnel should take guidance about the patient's wishes as expressed in a legally executed advance directive called a living will. If the patient is not mentally competent or is physically incapacitated so that communication is not possible, then the decision about treatment may be made by a surrogate, known as a healthcare proxy, who has been assigned by an advance directive known as a durable power of attorney for health care. If the patient is mentally competent, then he or she makes medical treatment decisions-usually in consultation with medical personnel, counselors or spiritual advisors and family members. Who decides on the medical treatment of an ill patient? The goal of hospice care is to ensure that the physical, spiritual and emotional needs of patients are all met so that they may live well while dying. The hospice patient is attended by a team of caregivers including medical personnel, counselors, clergy and family members. Hospice care is "comfort care," which can occur in either a hospice facility or in a patient's home. A hospice is for patients who have a terminal illness, who have suspended curative efforts and who want to die in a homelike setting.
What is the difference between a hospital and a hospice?Ī hospital is for patients seeking medical treatment to cure their illness or injury.