JESUS THE DIVINE PHYSICIAN
INTRODUCTION
Euthanasia, the painless killing of a patient suffering from an incurable and painful disease or in an irreversible coma. Is definition found in dictionary but as found at work in today’s culture it has become the deliberate killing of another person that one deems not worthy to live anymore.
Euthanasia is back in the headlines big time. Many euphemisms are used for euthanasia such as mercy killing but the new favorite is “death with dignity.” They have now added the slogan, my life, my choice. Sounds very familiar to the cry of pro-abortion lobby.
I find this very troubling since I had absolutely nothing to do with my existence, a pure gift from God the Creator. Life was not my choice from the very beginning. I was made to know, love and serve God in this world and be happy with Him in the next. Do I throw that gift back in His face and say no thanks, I am finished, Count me out.
I am not sure how you feel but I have always thought of death with dignity is dying as I have lived, trusting in Jesus loving God and my neighbor and placing myself in the arms of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph at the time of my passing.
JESUS, MARY, AND JOSEPH PRAY FOR ME AT THE HOUR OF MY DEATH!
HEADLINES
The Medical Aid in Dying for the Terminally Ill Act was signed into law by New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy. As of Aug. 1, 2019, terminally ill patients with a prognosis of six months or fewer will now be able to self-administer lethal concoctions of drugs in order to take their own lives.
The bill allows adults with a prognosis of six months or less to live to get a prescription for life-ending medication. The prescription is a series of self-administered pills that can be taken at home.” Allowing terminally ill and dying residents the dignity to make end-of-life decisions according to their own consciences is the right thing to do,” said Murphy.
Currently, California, Colorado, Oregon, Vermont, Washington, Hawaii, Montana and the District of Columbia allow physician-assisted suicide. In Canada, a hospital for sick children has unveiled a plan for how to terminate the lives of terminally ill kids, with or without parental consent. As the demand for end-of-life care continues to increase, physician-assisted suicide emerges as a cheap alternative to appropriate palliative or hospice care.
CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
2277 Whatever its motives and means, direct euthanasia consists in putting an end to the lives of handicapped, sick, or dying persons. It is morally unacceptable.
2283 To assist another’s suicide is to take part in “an injustice which can never be excused, even if it is requested…
“A government that legalizes assisted suicide sends the terrible message that there is such a thing as disposable people.”
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB)
COMMENTARY
In my activist days when I founded an organization to oppose Capital Punishment, I properly called it, STATE SANCTIONED MURDER. Now we have on the books of some states STATE SANCTIONED SUICIDE!
Already, before birth, if you don’t want the child you can get rid of it by an abortion procedure. Now it is established legally that some human life is disposable at the end of life. People too frail, too mentally disabled to work and contribute to society are at risk. They are now a drain on insurance companies, family incomes, and an inconvenience, depending on who is setting the definition of which human life matters.
Just because a terminally ill patient chooses to end his own life does not excuse society from moral obligations to intercede. God gave us life until He calls us home. An alternative to physician assisted suicide is palliative care, already well researched and well practiced .
PALLIATIVE CARE
The World Health Organization acknowledges that dying is a normal process and defines palliative care as “an approach that improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing the problems associated with life-threatening illness. It includes treatment of pain and other problems, physical, psychosocial and spiritual.”
The intention of palliative care is neither to hasten nor delay death. Effective palliative care allows patients to devote their attention to the unfinished business of their lives, to arrive at a sense of peace with God, with loved ones, and with themselves. Learning how to face this last stage of our earthly lives is one of the most important and meaningful things each of us will do.
CONCLUSION
Suffering need not be meaningless but can bring us closer to the mystery of Christ’s sacrifice for the salvation of the world. Suffering is part of human existence from birth until death, and every human person suffers in a variety of ways: physically, psychologically, socially, and spiritually. The suffering of Christ leads to his glory; so, too, does the suffering of Christians
Some call this “Redemptive suffering.” Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption once and for all by suffering torture and crucifixion for our sins, Jesus our Redeemer suffered in place of man and for man. Every man has his own share in the Redemption. Each man is also called to share in that suffering through which the Redemption was accomplished.
Redemptive suffering takes on our sins, the sins of others, acting as a kind of sponge absorbing the evil all around them. This form of suffering is so powerful–because love is so powerful–that its arms can span the entire world and has the potential to affect countless souls. “Suffering is medicine for Salvation.” St. Augustine
Our hope and prayer is that when we grow old or sick that we be surrounded by people who care and respect each and every human life. Catholics should be leaders in the effort to defend and uphold the principle that each of us has a right to live with dignity through every day of our lives, even our last ones.
Jesus, do not leave me alone in suffering. You know, Lord, how weak I am….I am nothingness itself… Do with me as you please, Lord, only give me the grace to be able to love You In every event and circumstance.
ADDENDUM
CATHOLIC DIRECTIVE Instructions for My Health Care
My Catholic faith teaches that all human life is a precious gift from God from the first moment of conception to the moment of natural death, and that euthanasia and assisted suicide are not morally permissible.
Therefore, I oppose any action or inaction that is intended to cause my death. I always wish to receive basic care, which will allow me to be most comfortable including food, water, and pain control. I have discussed my desires regarding pain control with my agent.
I wish to receive medical care and treatment appropriate to my condition as long as it is useful and offers a reasonable hope of benefit and is not excessively burdensome to me, i.e., does not impose serious risk, or some other extreme burden.
If I am unable to eat and drink on my own, nutrition and hydration administered by medical means should be provided to me unless death is inevitable and imminent so that the effort to sustain my life is futile, or unless I am unable to assimilate food or fluids.
I request and direct that medical treatment and care be provided to me to preserve my life without discrimination based on my age, physical or mental disability, or the “quality” of my life.
If my death from a terminal illness is imminent, I wish to refuse treatment that would only secure a precarious and burdensome prolongation of my life. I wish to be attended by a Catholic priest, receive the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick and Viaticum.
Signature______________________________Date_________Initials: Witness1_____ Witness 2