catholic beliefs about dying well Flashcards
what do catholics believe about death?
that death is the not end of our existence
what did Jesus taught?
how does this belief affect how catholics live their lives?
taught that those who believe in him would have eternal life; they would go on to live with god after death
it gives purpose and meaning to their existence and affects how they should treat those who are dying and approach death themselves
what is death seen as?
death should not be seen as the end of life, just a way into a new form of life
why does the church reject assisted suicide and euthanasia as ways of ending life?
this teaching is based on the belief that all human life is sacred.
life is a gift from god and so should be respected from conception to natural death.
what is assisted suicide and euthanasia seen as?
seen as going against the sanctity of life and against the instruction in the 10 commandments “do not murder”
what does the Catholic Church argue?
argues that we have the right to die with dignity but this does not mean they agree with euthanasia or assisted suicide
dignity
the state or quality of being worthy of honour or respect
what is the source of authority that any deliberate action that brings life to an end is wrong?
“I confirm that euthanasia is wrong as it breaks the law of god” pope John Paul II
what does the Catholic Church believe is an alternative to euthanasia and assisted suicide?
palliative care
what do catholics promote?
the work of hospices and other organisations that provide palliative care when treatment to cure a medical condition is no longer possible
who guides hospices and other organisations that offer similar care?
doctors to provide pain relieving medication, nursing care, supervision and practical help until natural death occurs.
why do the Catholic Church support those who provide palliative care?
because it respects the value of every person until their natural death
what is provided to reduce pain and why?
medication to enable the individual to retain as much dignity and quality of life as possible
Baroness Jane Campbell: when she was born, what did the doctors told her mother?
the doctors told her mother to take her home and enjoy her because they thought she would probably not live for longer than a year
Baroness Jane Campbell: over 50 years later, what is she a leading campaigner for?
the rights of people with disabilities and a member of the British House of Lords
Baroness Jane Campbell: what does she strongly opposed?
to euthanasia and assisted suicide
Baroness Jane Campbell: what charity does she support?
‘care not killing’ which promotes palliative care for people with degenerative and terminal illness
what do humanists reject?
reject belief in god and have long supported people in their right to die
what do humanists argue about the right to die?
argue that people who suffer from incurable diseases might choose to end their life before their illness reaches the final stages meaning they can choose to control the disease or illness before it becomes too painful. they wish to end their life before their quality of life is diminished
diminished
made smaller or less
what do humanists believe when a person who is fully conscious and rational?
has a freedom to choose when to end their life
rational
based on or in accordance with reason or logic.
what did Peter Singer state in his article for the guardian newspaper?
“we should end the suffering of patients who know they are dying and want to do so peacefully” in 2017
why do catholics believe in the sanctity of life?
as all human life is sacred and belongs to god
life is precious and should be respected from conception to natural death
where does this teaching of sanctity of life come from, reinforced in and by?
comes from the book of genesis and is reinforced in the commandments and by the st Catherine of siena when she described the human soul
why do catholics believe that suffering can have a purpose?
where is the teaching presented?
unites the person with the suffering of Jesus and can be offered up
presented by st John Paul II in ‘salvifici doloris’
what do catholics argue about death?
argue that people should be allowed to die with dignity using good palliative care
what do hospices offer?
support and care
acceptable to turn off a life support machine if the medical evidence shows the patient is brain dead
what is also acceptable if a person has a prolong painful illness?
to refuse treatment
what is acceptable when someone is in a coma?
withdrawing feeding of someone in a coma as it may be the most compassionate and loving thing to do however no direct form of euthanasia or assisted suicide is permissible
what is the source of authority from genesis? (sanctity of life)
“and god said, let us make man in our image”
what is the source of authority from exodus? (sanctity of life)
“thou shalt not kill”
what is the source of authority from st Catherine of siena? (sanctity of life)
“her dignity is that of her creation, seeing that she is the image of god, and this has been given her by grace, and not as her due. in that same mirror of the goodness of god”
why do christians and humanists argue that quality of life is more important?
it is the idea that life must have some benefits for it to be worth living
what is said to have a good quality of life?
if a person is free from pain and lives with dignity
what is said to have a poor quality of life?
if they are in constant pain and are unable to enjoy activities they once may have enjoyed
what do some argue if someone has a poor quality of life?
they have the right to die
arguments against euthanasia and assisted suicide
1. what does the commandments clearly state?
2. what can non-voluntary euthanasia lead to?
3. what does the sanctity of life state?
4. what can euthanasia and assisted suicide lead to?
- the commandments clearly state “do not kill”
- non-voluntary euthanasia can lead to discrimination of disabled people showing that their lives are not as valuable as the lives of others
- sanctity of life - life is scared and belongs to god
- euthanasia and assisted suicide can lead to 14 years in prison for a doctor or family member that may be responsible
arguments for euthanasia/assisted suicide
1. what is the golden rule?
2. what was given in 1947?
3. what do many people argue?
4. what will be in more pain in the future?
5. what did Jesus taught his followers that they should do/
6. what is euthanasia seen as?
7. what is believed of the quality of life?
- the golden rule: Jesus taught that you should “treat others as you would like to treated yourself”
- 1947 - we were given the declaration of human rights.
- many people argue that we should have the human right to die how and when we wish
- many illnesses have no cure and the prospect for the person suffering is that they will be in more pain in the future
5.jesus taught his followers that they should love their neighbour as they love themselves - euthanasia can be seen as the most loving action
- quality of life - life must have some benefits for it to be worth living. of not, the person is allowed to die
what does euthanasia literally mean?
an easy and gentle death
