A 75-year-old woman in good health wrote to The Inner Life with a serious question: Her doctor was encouraging her to sign a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order. Could she do so in good conscience as a Catholic?
The answer was nuanced: A DNR can be morally acceptable, but circumstances matter.
Because medical situations can vary dramatically, the guest suggested another approach: Designate a trusted healthcare proxy who shares your Catholic Faith and convictions.
“There can be circumstances in which, you know, it’s best to just let nature take its course,” he explained. But in other situations, a person may still be able to recover without excessive difficulty.
That is why advance directives can become complicated. A decision made years beforehand cannot always account for the particular medical circumstances a person may eventually face.
Instead, he recommended giving a trusted loved one power of attorney for healthcare decisions, allowing that person to evaluate the circumstances while respecting the patient’s Catholic values.
The conversation also highlighted Catholic Legacy, a free Relevant Radio resource where Catholics can prepare a healthcare directive consistent with Catholic ethics and designate someone to make healthcare decisions on their behalf.
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