The living will is a document that allows a patient to give instructions about the medical care they desire to receive at a future time. If consistent with Catholic teaching, it becomes a very effective tool for evangelization. A truly Catholic living will addresses five key principles: (1) the desire for pain relief, (2) assessing treatments as either ordinary or extraordinary, (3) providing nutrition and hydration, (4) prohibiting euthanasia, and (5) providing for spiritual care. The Catholic living will is not only individualized and patient-centered, it also avoids the dangers of a secular living will which deny patients proper end-of-life care.
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