The Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services: Part Five-Issues in Care for the Seriously Ill and Dying-and Promoting their Value in a Secular Culture Seeking Assisted Suicide

Abstract

The sixth edition of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' (USCCB) Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services (ERDs) provides ethical guidance for Catholic healthcare professionals and institutions for many moral issues. Presented here is a brief discussion of the main points contained in Part Five, which covers issues in care for the seriously ill and dying patient, and includes a focus on the challenges of promoting the essence of these Directives-without using religious arguments-to a secularized culture clamoring for physician-assisted suicide (PAS).

Keywords: apologetics; assisted suicide; death; dying; end-of-life options; ethical and religious directives; physician-assisted suicide.