| Is it ever acceptable to forgo life-sustaining treatment? |
Orthodox Church of America |
| Yes, but with caution. "[W]hile, in some cases, the artificial prolongations of a person's biological life in this world may be inconsistent with the proper understanding of human life, it is to be clearly distinguished from euthanasia with horror as any other form of deliberate murder" ("Resolution on Human Life" 1980). "All efforts to heal physical and spiritual sickness, to alleviate physical and spiritual suffering, and to prevent physical and spiritual death are to be supported and defended . . . Extreme caution is to be exercised in decisions involving medical treatment, especially in the face of death. Extreme care is always in order to find the ‘royal path' between providing all necessary healing measures and merely prolonging the biological functioning of organs when human life is no longer possible, or even present" ("Synodal Affirmations" 1992). |
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 Is it ever acceptable to forgo artificial nutrition and hydration? |
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| Unclear. Opinions differ regarding the continuation of food and hydration. Food and water should be offered to patients as longs as they can take it by mouth. Some feel that unconscious, dying persons should be fed intravenously; others do not (Harakas p. 10). |
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"Resolution on Human Life." 1980. Orthodox Church of America (passed November 1980). |
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