Benefits of end-of-life care directives
On March 31, 2005, Theresa "Terri" Marie Schiavo, a Roman Catholic, was pronounced dead due to severe dehydration 13 days after her feeding tube was removed for the final time. The battle of wills between her husband, Michael, and her parents, Robert and Mary Schindler, played out on a public stage creating a legal and political firestorm that swept through the hearts and minds of people worldwide.
This landmark case touched myriad agencies from the Pinellas County Circuit Court all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. The opposing parties involved in this litigation thought they knew best what Terri wanted. But what was sorely lacking in the 13-year legal battle was an advance directive from Schiavo herself expressing her own end-of-life wishes. Had she prepared an advance directive guiding her care, the cacophony of conflicts - medical, legal and personal- would likely have been avoided. The respect and dignity she deserved during her illness and subsequent death would have been preserved.
The Daughters of Charity Health System (DCHS), along with national, state and community organizations, will observe National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD) on April 16. The initiative highlights the importance of advance healthcare decision-making. But more important than recording our final wishes, or assigning an "agent" to oversee our decisions should we be unable to do so, is the opportunity to state our end-of-life decisions in union with the traditions of the Catholic Church.
Catholic teachings are based on beliefs we all embrace such as the sanctity of life, human dignity, and the redemptive power of suffering. We also accept that putting these ideals into practice doesn't always come easy. Watching a loved one suffer through a life-threatening illness while retaining one's faith and hope is one of life's most difficult challenges. While it is understandable that many Catholics feel uneasy at the intersection of religion and medicine, to avoid preparing an advance directive due to misconceptions and confusion as to the teachings of the Church is untenable.
Education is the best way to avoid the pitfalls that create end-of-life drama within families and, ultimately, society as a whole. DCHS is mandated by federal law to offer advance directive information to all of our patients. A Catholic Guide to Critical End of Life Decisions:
Advance Directives is presented to each patient upon admittance. The 19-page booklet, authored by Father Gerald Coleman, S.S., vice president of corporate ethics for DCHS, has been translated into several languages in order to better serve our diverse community. If questions arise, our Chaplain Services department offers guidance and support.
The Theresa Marie Schiavo case is a useful example of what can happen when our end-of-life decisions are not recorded. Terri Schiavo was only 26 when she collapsed, leading us to encourage everyone 18 years and older to complete an advance directive. Save your family the pain of second-guessing and allow yourself the gift of peace.
On April 16, I will lead the drive for DCHS leadership, physicians, and staff to complete their advance directive form. I urge you to do the same.
For more information about National Healthcare Decisions Day 2009, please visit www.nationalhealthcaredecisionsday.org.
By By Robert Issai, President and CEO, Daughters of Charity Health System
From March 27, 2009 issue of Catholic San Francisco.
