End of life issues

I was talking with a certain doctor I know about my dads death in 2007. He died of lung cancer and is greatly missed. While on his death bed he received sugar water and pain medications. Unfortunately our physician, who attends our church offered us the option to decrease his food and water to nothing in order to expedite his death because his quality of life was so poor.

We were appalled. Besides the fact that we were dealing with a hard death, now we had to fight for our dying father to receive basic food and water. What a learning experience this situation was for all of us. Hospice was also pushing for us to decrease and end the food and water. It was such an interesting conflict. I could almost hear them in the hallway saying, 'How sad. Why won't this family just let him go? It is selfish.'

How far from the Truth!

As Catholics we place the utmost value of human life in all forms. From the earliest moment of conception to the last breath of the dying we know that we are made in the image and likeness of God. This alone warrants that human life be treated well. What our world has done through abortion and euthanasia is a direct offense against the beauty of our Father in Heaven. As listed below the Catechism of the Catholic Church plainly specifies that any form of euthanasia is undeniably wrong and not acceptable.

So where is the line? The line lies here.

All human beings, regardless of their state of life, deserve the following:

Food
Water
Pain control

So my doctor that I am talking to talks about the patients right to decide. Example, an elderly patient with advanced lung cancer, in his last days... if he and his family decide its okay to remove the food and water element of his care, is that acceptable? And when do we cross the line from food and water to 'pulling the plug'?

D0es the physician have a duty to the patient? And their needs and wants?

The duty is to God and then the patient. All life is to be treated respectfully. All human life is required to receive basic life sustaining treatment including food, water and pain medication.

What are your thoughts??



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Check here to read what the Vatican wrote regarding Euthanasia.

Catechism of the Catholic Church:

2324 Intentional euthanasia, whatever its forms or motives, is murder. It is gravely contrary to the dignity of the human person and to the respect due to the living God, his Creator.

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.

Thus an act or omission which, of itself or by intention, causes death in order to eliminate suffering constitutes a murder gravely contrary to the dignity of the human person and to the respect due to the living God, his Creator. The error of judgment into which one can fall in good faith does not change the nature of this murderous act, which must always be forbidden and excluded.

Pro-life warriors

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With last night’s 26-33 defeat of an amendment to ban your tax dollars for paying for abortions in the District of Columbia, pro-lifers across the country must rally to defeat the Financial Services Appropriations bill.

If this bill is allowed to pass, YOU will be paying for all abortions in Washington, D.C. starting on October 1st.

Conservative estimates say allowing for taxpayer funded abortions in the D.C. will result in 1,000 more abortions each year.

Please click here to contact your Representative and tell them to oppose taxpayer-funded abortions!

Why does this matter? Because laws save lives. When the government isn’t subsidizing abortion on-demand, we see fewer abortions.

Taxpayer-funded abortion on-demand is not common ground and it certainly doesn’t reduce abortions.

This is why it is so important that you act now to oppose this bill. We can still save the lives of precious unborn children in the District of Columbia.

Click here to contact your Representative and tell them to vote no on the Financial Service Appropriations bill. Tell them you oppose taxpayer-funded abortions!

I urge you to consider forwarding this e-mail to as many friends and family members you can. Now is not the time to give up. We must continue to fight for the lives of the innocent unborn and the consciences of millions of pro-life Americans who do not want to participate in their deaths.

Thank you all that you do for the unborn boys and girls!

For Life,
Marjorie DannenfelserSusan B. Anthony List President703-875-3370www.sba-list.org

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