| Is it ever acceptable to forgo life-sustaining treatment? |
Presbyterian Church (USA) |
| Yes. "While the direction of Biblical ethics is against taking the life of another, it in no way claims that it is necessary to prolong the life--or the dying process--of a person who is gravely ill with little or no hope for cure or remission. Persons who are terminally ill must be able to trust that their dying will not be prolonged by unrequested technological interventions. . . . The existence of specific medical technology does not require that it be used. . . . In a pluralistic society where people have different beliefs about life and death, basic Christian respect for persons demands that a person's decisions about death be honored in most instances" ("The Covenant of Life and the Caring Community" 1983: 23). |
|
 Is it ever acceptable to forgo artificial nutrition and hydration? |
|
| Not specifically addressed. |
|
|
|
|
|
| "The Covenant of Life and the Caring Community." 1983. Ssubmitted by the Advisory Council on Church and Society; received and adopted by the 195th General Assembly, Presbyterian Church (USA). Presbyterian Church (USA). 1995. In Life and Death We Belong to God: Euthanasia, Assisted Suicide, and End-of-Life Issues, A Study Guide. Church, Faith and Life Area, Congregational Ministries Division. Louisville: Presbyterian Publishing Corp. Evans, Abigail Rian. 2003. "Religious Beliefs and Healthcare Decision: The Presbyterian Church (USA) Tradition" in Religious Traditions and Healthcare Decisions. Chicago: Park Ridge Center. |
|
