Colorado bishops urge use of health-care directives
Bill Howard, Herald Editor

COLORADO SPRINGS. The bishops of Colorado have created a Catholic health-care directive aimed at helping the faithful understand Catholic teaching on suffering, dying and the dignity of life.

The directive was released Aug. 7 by the Colorado Catholic Conference, the Colorado bishops’ legislative arm. It includes a directive form that one can fill out and give to an attorney or agent.

"Modern medicine has made tremendous progress in allowing us to live longer and healthier lives," the bishops wrote. "But with the progression of modern medicine also comes many challenges about what means we will use to sustain our lives or the lives of those we love. Those challenges and decisions concerning end-of-life care will be faced by many families in our dioceses."

The statement gives six moral principles that should guide one when making end-of-life decisions:

— God has sovereignty over every human life. Therefore, we have the duty to preserve our lives.

— "Each person has the responsibility to prepare emotionally and spiritually for his or her death."

— Euthanasia is immoral; no one has a right to ask for it for another person or oneself.

— "Relief and pain in accordance with the wishes of the dying person is permitted, even if death is hastened as an unintended side effect of the drug therapy administered."

— End-of-life decisions must respect the fundamental and inalieable right to life, especially for those who are vulnerable to discrimination based age and dependency.

— "Persons are not morally obligated to use extraordinary or disproportionate means to preserve the life of the patient."

The statement said that neglect of medically assisted nutrition and hydration to cause death is immoral.

"As long as the person is able to absorb medically assisted food and water they continue to be beneficial in sustaining life," it said.

The statement called for the faithful to consult with one’s family members, parish priest and personal physician before filling out an advance directive form, which notifies the family, friends and/or health-care provider of your intentions regarding treatment.

The statement also mentioned the importance of the presence of family and friends when a loved one is ill and suffering.

NOTE: The complete statement and advance directive form is available at www.cocatholicconference.org.