Resources on Assisted Suicide, Medical Treatment Decision-making, and Care At The End Of Life

File Format Information:  We offer some of the following resources in two formats, html and pdf.  Use the html format if you have no interest in reproducing the resource to look exactly like the original.  If you want to use the original format (for example, to print out and reproduce as a bulletin insert or as a flyer), use the "pdf" version.  You must have the free "Acrobat Reader" software created by Adobe Inc. on your computer to retrieve the files in the pdf format.  You can download this free software from Adobe's website, http://www.adobe.com (look for the "Get Acrobat Reader" icon).

General Resources

Evangelium Vitae (html)  Pope John Paul II's encyclical on the "Gospel of Life" provides the framework for In Support of Life.

Rediscovering Inalienable Rights:  Assisted Suicide & the Declaration of Independence (html)

Catholic Health Care Proxy for Massachusetts (pdf)   Instructions and overview of Church teaching accompany proxy form; complies with Massachusetts law and Church teaching on medical decisionmaking

Parish Educational Resources

Six Things Every Catholic Should Know About End of Life Issues & Care for the Dying (html)

Self Study Guide on the Catholic Church and End of Life Issues (html)

Introductory Workshop on End of Life Issues:  Goals & Objectives (html)

Introductory Workshop on End of Life Issues:  Facilitator's Planner (Agenda, etc.) (html)

Introductory Workshop on End of Life Issues:  Discussion Starters (html)

Introductory Video Transcript (html)

Bulletin Insert Series

"What's All the Fuss About?"   Why Assisted Suicide and Dying Are on the Church's Agenda. (pdf)

The definitive Roman Catholic Church teaching on end of life issues Declaration on Euthanasia 1980 go

Some quotes to live by! great fillers for bulletins and newsletters go

An updated version of the parable of the Good Samaritan called The Doctor go

Read Life at Risk to keep up with national developments  go

"I Can't Believe In A God Who Would Let This Happen!"  Reflections on Suffering, Death and Eternal Life. (pdf)

Read Pope John Paul's Salvifici Dolores (On the Christian Meaning of Human Suffering)   go

See an insightful reflection on Salvifici Dolores by Nicholas Lund-Molfese formatted in Word97 download by saving to disk (which allows you to choose a folder in your computer to save the document in), launch your Word program, go to folder where you saved downloaded file, and open in Word

In The Nature of Suffering . . . Dr. Ira Byock talks about his experiences with those who suffer  go

Another article by Dr. Ira Byock worth your reflection is When Suffering Persists   go

Read Aging and Caring by Dr. Paul E. Ruskin and be surprised.  go

"Why, That's Killing!"   Telling the Difference Between Killing and Caring. (pdf)

For a good overview of general principles look at Part 5 of the Ethical and Religious Directives  go

Congressional testimony that ably distinguishes between euthanasia and good pain management   go

For an excellent discussion on double effect principles see Sulmasy & Pellegrino, The Rule of Double Effect  go

The U.S. Supreme Court in Quill & Glucksberg addressed the legal distinction between allowing to die and murder  go

"But, Isn't That Just Giving Up?"  Why Hospice Should Be a Part of Your Life. (pdf)

Pope John Paul II extols the virtues of hospice in a 1998 Message to the Sick and Suffering  go

The Hospice Federation of Massachusetts helps you find a hospice in Massachusetts  go

The National Hospice Organization provides answers to the 20 most common questions about hospice  go

"So, Have You Thought About What You Would Want?"  Planning Your Care Ahead of Time. (pdf)

Don't forget to print out a copy of the Catholic Health Care Proxy for Massachusetts (pdf)  go

See the excellent Catholic Guide to End of Life Decisions by the Nat'l Catholic Bioethics Center  go

Take a look at the National Hospice Foundation survey on "Baby Boomers"and treatment discussions  go

The Mass. Medical Society  website gives you the scoop about health care proxy day  go

"How Can A Lethal Prescription Be A Crime If Someone Wants It?"  Why Assisted Suicide Is Wrong. (pdf)

The best treatment of the issue in the U.S. and in the Netherlands can be found in When Death is Sought  go

Luke Gormally's Seven Reasons why Assisted Suicide should not be legalized is a must read  go

Look what the U.S. Federal Government's National Council on Disability has to say about assisted suicide  go

"Have You Seen Joe & Mary Lately?"   The Role of the Parish in Caring for the Dying. (pdf)

What's going on in your diocese?  Here's how you can touch base with your Diocesan Contact Office  (go)

See the Institute of Medicine report, On Approaching Death, a scholarly treatment of health care issues at the end of life  go

The comprehensive study of spiritual attitudes and care at the end of life produced by the Gallup Poll  go

"Keep Your Beliefs Away From My Dying!"  Assisted Suicide, the Law, and Christian Witness. (pdf)

Take a look at the statement on Living the Gospel of Life:  A Challenge to American Catholics  go

A summary of the Law on Assisted Suicide nationally & in Massachusetts  go