Physician-assisted suicide will be legalized this summer in New York State, and the Catholic bishops of New York are speaking up on the moral and ethical issues involved as well as providing guidance to their flocks about end-of-life decisions.
The NY bishops have just released a revised and updated edition of Now and at the Hour of Our Death: A Catholic Guide to End-of-Life Decision-Making, which makes clear Church teaching on end-of-life issues and gives guidance about legal options provided for advance planning in New York.
Legal physician-assisted suicide in New York
In February, New York Governor Hochul signed legislation S.138/A.136 which legalizes what the Governor calls “medical aid in dying” for “terminally ill New Yorkers with less than six months to live.”
In Now and at the Hour of our Death, the NY bishops speak directly to the current situation:
“Like a number of other states before it, New York now has legalized physician-assisted suicide. Our Church warns us in no uncertain terms that this practice is objectively immoral and must be avoided, despite the false veil of compassion with which it is sold. Often proponents refer to the practice as “death with dignity.”
However, in response to this, it must be strongly reiterated that suffering does not cause the sick to lose their dignity, which is intrinsically and inalienably their own. Instead, suffering can become an opportunity to strengthen the bonds of mutual belonging and gain greater awareness of the precious value of each person to the whole human family.”
The Church raising its voice against ending human life
As legalization of assisted-suicide and euthanasia continues its march in the United States and abroad, the Church has repeatedly called for respect for life from natural conception to natural death.
This February, the Canadian bishops supported legislation that would prevent people “whose sole medical condition is mental illness from accessing euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide.”
President of the Italian Bishops Conference, Cardinal Zuppi, also spoke up loudly this winter about proposed legislation that would expand euthanasia access saying to his fellow Italian bishops, “The answer to suffering is not to offer death, but to guarantee forms of social support, continuous health care, and home health care, so that the patient does not feel alone and families can be supported and accompanied.”
The bishops of Wales called as well for a day of fasting and prayer in the face of legislation that would legalize assisted suicide.
In addition to leading the way in prayer and politics, various organizations are also making sure people are educated so that they can make informed decisions.
In England, this website offers a wealth of information.
The National Catholic Bioethics Center in the USA is also a complete resource, and even has a hotline for people to speak with an ethicist about their particular case.
Now and at the hour of our death
The terminology of end-of-life issues can be complicated, and it is common for people to have questions. What is the difference between euthanasia and assisted-suicide? Ordinary vs. extraordinary treatment supporting life? What about artificial nutrition and hydration?
Now and at the Hour of Our Death lays out all of these terms and the moral theology behind the Catholic teaching on each. The bishops remind New York Catholics, “Treatment decisions are moral decisions and must be made with informed consent.”
The second half of the booklet focuses in on legal options for advance planning specific to New York State. The bishops recognize that every family will face end-of-life issues for themselves and/or a loved one eventually and this sort of guidance is meant to provide practical help in preparation for medical crises.
Life through the lens of faith
“The best time to create an advance directive such as a healthcare proxy is now,” the bishops urge at the end of the booklet. "Before you enter a hospital or nursing home or become seriously ill, so you can consider all your options carefully and competently through the lens of your faith.”
