For Ethics and Theology

3.  Ethical Issues and Concepts - links to Ascenscion Health Web site

4.  Health Progress - articles relating to ethics and end-of-life care

5.  Health Care Ethics - articles relating to ethics and end-of-life care 

6.  Supportive Care Coalition 2006 National Congress - power point presentations




1.  Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services

Issued by NCCB/USCC, June 15, 2001.  Copyright © 2001, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Inc. All rights reserved.


Issues in Care for the Dying

Above all, as a witness to its faith, a Catholic health care institution will be a community of respect, love, and support to patients or residents and their families as they face the reality of death. What is hardest to face is the process of dying itself, especially the dependency, the helplessness, and the pain that so often accompany terminal illness. One of the primary purposes of medicine in caring for the dying is the relief of pain and the suffering caused by it. Effective management of pain in all its forms is critical in the appropriate care of the dying.


. . . The task of medicine is to care even when it cannot cure. Physicians and their patients must evaluate the use of the technology at their disposal. Reflection on the innate dignity of human life in all its dimensions and on the purpose of medical care is indispensable for formulating a true moral judgment about the use of technology to maintain life. The use of life-sustaining technology is judged in light of the Christian meaning of life, suffering, and death. Only in this way are two extremes avoided: on the one hand, an insistence on useless or burdensome technology even when a patient may legitimately wish to forgo it and, on the other hand, the withdrawal of technology with the intention of causing death. See the full text.


2.  Ethical Principles

The links to the ethical principles and issues and concepts listed below are generously shared by Dan O'Brien, vice president for Ethics at Ascension Health, a member of the Coalition since 1999. 

 
Principle of Beneficence 
       
Principle of the Common Good

Principle of Distributive Justice                   

Principle of Double Effect 

Principle of Human Dignity 

Principle of  Informed Consent 

Principles of Integrity and Totality         

Principle of  Proportionate and Disproportionate Means

Principle of  Respect for Autonomy

 
4.  Health Progress - articles relating to ethics and end-of-life care

July-August, 2006    Volume 87, Number 4

End-of-life Care Revisited
Recent Debates Have Raised Some Important Foundational Questions
BR. DANIEL P. SULMASY, OFM, MD, PhD            http://www.chausa.org/Pub/MainNav/News/HP/Archive/2006/07JulAug/Articles/Features/hp0607j.htm

The Ethics of Loving Care
Palliative Care, Like Pediatrics, Understands that Patients Should Always Be Seen as Capable of Growth
IRA BYOCK, MD
http://www.chausa.org/Pub/MainNav/News/HP/Archive/2004/07julyaugust/articles/SpecialSection/hp0407g.htm

July-August, 2004    Volume 85, Number 4

Listening to Stories of Pain and Joy
Physicians and Other Caregivers Can Help Patients Find Comfort and Meaning at the End of Life
CHRISTINA M. PUCHALSKI, MD
http://www.chausa.org/Pub/MainNav/News/HP/Archive/2004/07julyaugust/articles/SpecialSection/hp0407h.htm

Giving Patients A "Good Death"
A New Hampshire Facility Describes the Development of Its End-of-Life Care Program
NANCY MULVIHILL
http://www.chausa.org/Pub/MainNav/News/HP/Archive/2004/07julyaugust/articles/SpecialSection/hp0407i.htm

Spiritual Care at the End of Life
Some Clergy Lack Training in End-of-Life Care
KAYE NORRIS, PhD; GRETCHEN STROHMAIER, MD; CHARLES ASP, PhD; & IRA BYOCK, MD
http://www.chausa.org/Pub/MainNav/News/HP/Archive/2004/07julyaugust/articles/SpecialSection/hp0407k.htm

 January-February, 2004    Volume 85, Number 1

Improving Response to Life-Threatening Illness
The Nationwide CALL Care Project Involved 11 Catholic Organizations
SYLVIA McSKIMMING, RN, PhD; MARLA LONDON; CAROL LIEBERMAN; & ELLEN GEERLING
http://www.chausa.org/Pub/MainNav/News/HP/Archive/2004/01JanFeb/articles/hp0401i.htm

July-August, 2003    Volume 84, Number 4

Creating a Medical Futility Policy
Physicians at a Honolulu Hospital Describe the Experience
S. Y. TAN, MD, JD; BRADLEY CHUN, MD; & EDWARD KIM, MD
http://www.chausa.org/Pub/MainNav/News/HP/Archive/2003/07JulAug/Articles/HP0307j.htm

Are Futility Policies the Answer?
Caregivers Must Improve Communication with Patients and Their Families
RON HAMEL, PhD, & MICHAEL R. PANICOLA, PhD
http://www.chausa.org/Pub/MainNav/News/HP/Archive/2003/07JulAug/Articles/HP0307k.htm

July-August, 2002    Volume 83, Number 4

Ethical Implications of Pain Management
Can A Formalized Policy Help?
FR. PETER A. CLARK, SJ, PhD
http://www.chausa.org/Pub/MainNav/News/HP/Archive/2002/07JulAug/Articles/Features/HP0207t.htm

March-April, 2002    Volume 83, Number 2

The Illinois Bishops on Death and Dying
A Pastoral Letter Presents Church Teaching in a Succinct and Understandable Manner
REV. KEVIN O'ROURKE, OP, JCD, STM
http://www.chausa.org/Pub/MainNav/News/HP/Archive/2002/03MarApr/Articles/Features/HP0203t.htm

November-December, 2001    Volume 82, Number 6

Feeding Tubes: Sorting Out The Issues
Efficacy of Artificial Nutrition and Hydration Is Determined by Several Clinical Factors
MYLES N. SHEEHAN, SJ, MD
http://www.chausa.org/Pub/MainNav/News/HP/Archive/2001/11NovDec/Articles/Features/hp0111t.htm

Withdrawing Nutrition and Hydration
The Catholic Tradition Offers Guidance for the Treatment of Patients in a Persistent Vegetative State
MICHAEL R. PANICOLA, PhD
http://www.chausa.org/Pub/MainNav/News/HP/Archive/2001/11NovDec/Articles/Features/HP0111v.htm

July-August, 2000    Volume 81, Number 4

Time for a Formalized Medical Futility Policy
Mercy Health System's Procedures Will Help Free Its Physicians from Legal Concerns
Rev.Peter Clark, SJ PhD & Catherine Milkus www.chausa.org/Pub/MainNav/News/HP/Archive/2000/07JulAug/Articles/Features/HP0007F.htm

5.  Health Care Ethics at St. Louis University - articles relating to ethics and end-of-life care


Vol. 13 No. 2 Fall 2005 

Discontinuing Implantable Cardiac Devices & the ERDs
John Paul Slosar

Vol. 11 No. 2 Fall 2003 pg. 3-9

Resolving the Case of Terri Schiavo:  a Matter of Being in a Persistent Vegatative State of of the Patient's Intent to Forgo Life-Sustaining Procedures
Gerard Magill 
 
Vol. 10 No. 3 Winter 2002 pg. 7-11

God's Dominion and the Wrongness of Killing
Jill Burkemper


Vol. 10 No. 1 Spring 2002 pg. 26-31

The Medical Futility Debate:  A Simple Compromise
John Paul Slosar

Vol. 8 No. 1 Winter 2000  pg. 8-9

Dying with Dignity, Crying for Clarity
Jill Burkemper

Vol. 8 No. 3 Summer 2000

Patient Authorization Cannot Justify Physician-Assisted Suicide
Jill Burkemper


6.  2006 Recovering Our Traditions II - power point presentations

Lessons from the End of Life:  Journey Toward Excellence
Myles N. Sheehan, SJ, MD

Dying with dignity: A Catholic imperative
Thomas Kopfensteiner, Senior Vice President, Catholic Health Initiatives

Politics and end-of-life care
Michael F. Rodgers, Vice President, Public Policy and Advocacy, Catholic Health Association

Terminal Sedation: Cautions, concerns, indications
Myles Sheehan, SJ, MD

Honoring the Sacredness of the Journey:  Pediatric Palliative Care
Mary Ann Collins, MSHA, Director of Mission and Manager FOOTPRINTS Program, SSM Cardinal Gelnnon Children's Hospital

Supporting Hope - A Challenge and a Covenant
Karin Dufault, SP, PhD, RN, Executive Director Supportive Care Coalition