Who will speak for me when I cannot speak for myself?
How do I ensure that the decisions made about my health care are morally right?
Making sound moral decisions in the face of serious illness is difficult, especially if you are in the midst of suffering. It may be even more difficult for your family and friends, who want to act in your best interests and cannot clearly see what that may be.
Learn what Catholic teaching says about moral obligations related to end-of-life decisions. Take the time to fill out an advance health care directive for yourself and loved ones.
Minnesota Catholic Health Care Directive
MCC has prepared the document, “Health Care Directives: A Catholic Perspective”. This document is a guide that answers basic questions about law, Church teaching, and completing a health care directive. Within the booklet, you will find a Minnesota Catholic Health Care Directive that meets our state’s legal requirements and reflects our Catholic teaching. Linked below is also a one-page version of just the directive without the guide.
GUIDE TO END-OF-LIFE CARE DECISIONS
Additionally, MCC has prepared a guide to end-of-life care decisions. This is a brief ethical primer on medical decisions regarding life-sustaining treatments in the Catholic Tradition. It is a supplement to “Health Care Directives: A Catholic Perspective”.
You can download and print individual copies (large print or booklet editions) of the health care directive and guide, and the guide to end-of-life care decisions by clicking the links below.
If you are interested in bulk ordering copies of the health care directive please contact Griffith Printing in St. Paul for pricing and to place your order. Their phone number is 612-325-8299. To use a different printing company, you may download the versions marked, “For Professional Printing”, which include the necessary crop and bleeds marks.
The Minnesota Catholic Conference can also mail you a copy. Call us at 651-227-8777 to make a request.
Downloadable PDFs:
MN Catholic Health Care Directive (Directive & Guide) – Large Print Edition (Full Page)
MN Catholic Health Care Directive (Directive & Guide) – Booklet Edition (Half Page)
MN Catholic Health Care Directive (Directive & Guide) – For Professional Printing
MN Catholic Health Care Directive (Directive Only) – Large Print Edition (Full Page)
MN Catholic Health Care Directive (Directive Only) – Single Sheet
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End-of-Life Care Decisions Guide – Large Print Edition (Full Page)
End-of-Life Care Decisions Guide – Booklet Edition (Half Page)
End-of-Life Care Decisions Guide – For Professional Printing