Thursday, October 21, 2010

Time to Let Go!

A recent study about preferences pertaining to aggressive care at the end of life showed that religious persons (particularly Christians) were more likely to maintain advanced life support on dying patients than non-religious persons. I find this puzzling, but not surprising.

Christians believe that God in Jesus Christ has promised eternal life for those whom God has saved. So why do many Christians hang on to aggressive care when such care becomes burdensome(FOR THE PATIENT!)and futile (no hope for meaningful life)?

There might be several explanations. Some Roman Catholics believe their Church teaches that all life must be preserved at all costs. That is not what Catholic Health Care Directives, as promulgated by the US Conference of Bishops, mandates. A guide from the North Dakota Catholic Conference states, "Death is a beginning, not an end. Death, being conquered by Christ, need not be resisted by any and every means and a person may refuse medical treatment that is extraordinary. A treatment is extraordinary when it offers little or no hope of benefit or cannot be provided without undue burden, expense, or pain.". It is acceptable to allow natural death to occur, as long as the dying person is kept comfortable and their spiritual needs (as well as their loved ones' spiritual needs) are supported.

Many Christians believe in miracle healing. I do too! But miracles are few and far between. I think that is why unusual cures are called "miracles". Most people will age, decline, and die according to predictable, scientifically explained patterns. To keep a dying person "alive" in hopes of a miracle "cure" can lead to a painful, burdensome, and cruel death. Even death row inmates have constitutional guarantees against cruel and unusual punishment. Should we not protect our loved ones from cruel and unusual(unnatural) dying? "O death, where is your sting?" asked St. Paul. Visit your local intensive care unit (or ask an ICU nurse to share some stories) and you will see.

When I am working with families struggling with these issues, I will sometimes remind them of how our forebears died before the advent of respirators, critical medications, and CPR. There was a time when dying was not so institutionalized. Folks died at home in the loving care of their families. Medical advances have been great in helping the living recover meaningful lives. Unfortunately these same advances can be torturously tyrannical when used upon the dying.

God forgive us, for we know not what we do.

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