Center to Advance Palliative Care

For Patients and Families
Partner
Sponsor
 
  Print this page
Views

CAPC Palliative Care Discussion Forum
Chaplaincy in Palliative Care Settings

Next Reply: Re:Catholic end-of-life issues
Previous Message: Funeral/Memorial Services
Next Message: Palliative Care Certification for Chaplains

Post Catholic end-of-life issues
Author: Lisa_LeBlanc
Date: Aug 19, 2011 11:42 am
I am looking for information - either written or website that can be provided to Catholic families regarding end-of-life concerns from a Catholic perspective - specifically withdrawal of treatment (tube feedings, CPR, etc) for end-stage Alzheimer's disease.

Feel free to either post here, or email me.

Thanks!

Lisa LeBlanc-Withrow
Email: lleblanc6@elliot-hs.org
Replies: order by [Date] [Author] [Subject]
Re:Catholic end-of-life issues (by cindy111 on 08/19/2011)
Lisa - you may find the following link helpful to your question.
http://www.ewtn.com/expert/answers/end_of_life_decisions.htm
Cindy
Re:Catholic end-of-life issues (by RMiota on 08/19/2011)
Lisa,

1. Depending on your location, you may want to contact the Chaplaincy/Spiritual Care Department of the nearest Catholic (CHA-affiliated hospital) to find out what resources they use. They also may have a contact within the Archdiocese.

2. That way you get an idea of what Catholic patients are already getting in the way of written material (if they are getting anything at all.)

3. You also might be able to make a personal connection with that Director/Manager, which to me is better than just getting printed material.

4. I'm on pretty good terms with the head of the Spiritual Care Dept at the largest CHA hospital. She sent me the power point, last year, of the briefing that the system's ethicist gave on the new directives sent out that addressesd end of life issues as well her comments on the discussion that followed.

5. In general, the average parish priest is not going to be up on these issues, and may even be misinformed.

6. If you don't have a CHA hospital nearby, you might try calling the Diocese or the Archdiocese and explain to them your need.

Best of luck,

Randy Miota
Manager of Chaplaincy Services
Lakeland HealthCare
1234 Napier Avenue
St. Joseph, MI 49085-2158
+ Re:Catholic end-of-life issues (by Leisa_Greathouse on 08/19/2011)
I'm Catholic with a masters from Loyola New Orleans in Pastoral Studies. What the patients really want to know is the Catholic teachings on this. Very dangerous ground. This sounds like they are Catholic but perhaps not active???? If they were active their priest could tell them what the Church says about this. What they want is to be told by a priest is that its okay. An absolution if you will. The problem is, if they talk to a conservative priest, he will want the person to be given every possible chance to live. The whole right to life issue. Find a more liberal priest who can set this families mind to rest that they are doing the best thing for the patient and that the patient will not end up in purgatory and will make it into heaven. You can also send them to the website USCCB, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Good luck.
Re:Catholic end-of-life issues (by ghandzo on 08/19/2011)
I agree with Leisa in the sense that I would make sure I have a priest available to me who is knowledgable on these issues, but more importantly, has the clinical expertise to deal pastorally with individual patients and families. For better or for worse, the only person with the proper authority to interpret Catholic teachings to a family is a priest. Our colleague, Jane Mather, chaplain at Providence Spokane Urban Hospitals also recommends the US Catholic Conference of Bishops web site specifically http://www.usccb.org/about/doctrine/ethical-and-religious-directives/. If you want to read up yourself, Jane recommends David Kelly's book Catholic Healthcare Ethics which can be ordered on Amazon.

The Rev. George Handzo, BCC
Vice President
Chaplaincy Care Leadership & Ethics
HealthCare Chaplaincy
New York, NY
Re:Catholic end-of-life issues (by PMalcolm on 08/20/2011)
Lisa,
During the CPE residency a member of the Ethics committee in our hospital did a teaching on the topic and provided information regarding this isssue. If you have such a committee in place they may be a resource for you.

Hope this helps.
Chaplain Malcolm
Re:Catholic end-of-life issues (by PMalcolm on 08/20/2011)
Lisa,
During the CPE residency a member of the Ethics committee in our hospital did a teaching on the topic and provided information regarding this isssue. If you have such a committee in place they may be a resource for you.

Hope this helps.
Chaplain Malcolm
Re:Catholic end-of-life issues (by PMalcolm on 08/20/2011)
Lisa,
During the CPE residency a member of the Ethics committee in our hospital did a teaching on the topic and provided information regarding this isssue. If you have such a committee in place they may be a resource for you.

Hope this helps.
Chaplain Malcolm

IMPORTANT: In order to post a new message or reply to an existing post in the discussion you must login. If you are not a registered member you may join here.
The statements posted in the forum section of capc.org are opinions expressed by website visitors and do not necessarily represent the viewpoints or positions of the Center to Advance Palliative Care(CAPC). CAPC is not responsible for the factual or legal accuracy of any of the statements posted.


General questions about using the CAPCconnect™ palliative care discussion forum? EmailPatricia.Caines@mssm.edu

Lost login username/password questions? Email: Margaret.Schutz@mssm.edu