Whether treatment, such as a ventilator, is ordinary or extraordinary is not always easy to decide, especially in cases when a patient’s outcome is uncertain or debated. Vice President for Theology at EWTN Global Catholic Network, Colin Donovan, explained:
Determining whether there will be a reasonable hope of benefit to a particular patient can be challenging. Each case must be considered on its own merits, as we seek to make a good prudential judgment, and to provide for our loved ones in a way that corresponds to their real medical needs, so that we neither neglect nor overburden them in the face of powerful medical technology.
Though the morality of the orders themselves are not explicitly addressed by the Church, “do-not-resuscitate” (DNR) orders also use the distinction of ordinary and extraordinary treatment. “A DNR is an advance directive, legally recognized, giving a person or, if not competent, his health care proxy, authority to prevent CPR or, if it has begun, to withdraw it.” If after taking into account the patient's situation, and physical and moral resources, it can be judged that CPR is considered excessively burdensome, therefore being extraordinary …show more content…
32.39). A right is a just claim or title. Humans do not have a claim on death. No one, whether relative, doctor, or legislature, had the right to decide when their life, or the life of another will end. Even those who lives may be diminished by suffering and illness deserve the respect due to all human beings and the right to life that no one is ever able to take away. Allowing a sick person to die a natural death from whatever illness is plaguing them not only respects the value of the human person, but also gives the patient the chance to reunite their sufferings to the sufferings of Christ and grow closer to
Determining whether there will be a reasonable hope of benefit to a particular patient can be challenging. Each case must be considered on its own merits, as we seek to make a good prudential judgment, and to provide for our loved ones in a way that corresponds to their real medical needs, so that we neither neglect nor overburden them in the face of powerful medical technology.
Though the morality of the orders themselves are not explicitly addressed by the Church, “do-not-resuscitate” (DNR) orders also use the distinction of ordinary and extraordinary treatment. “A DNR is an advance directive, legally recognized, giving a person or, if not competent, his health care proxy, authority to prevent CPR or, if it has begun, to withdraw it.” If after taking into account the patient's situation, and physical and moral resources, it can be judged that CPR is considered excessively burdensome, therefore being extraordinary …show more content…
32.39). A right is a just claim or title. Humans do not have a claim on death. No one, whether relative, doctor, or legislature, had the right to decide when their life, or the life of another will end. Even those who lives may be diminished by suffering and illness deserve the respect due to all human beings and the right to life that no one is ever able to take away. Allowing a sick person to die a natural death from whatever illness is plaguing them not only respects the value of the human person, but also gives the patient the chance to reunite their sufferings to the sufferings of Christ and grow closer to