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 a Minnesota Catholic Health Care Directive that meets our state’s legal requirements and reflects our Catholic teaching. Additionally, we have a Health Care Directive Guide that answers basic questions about law, Church teaching, and completing a health care directive.
Download and print the guide (HERE) and the health care directive form (HERE) (or listed under Essential Background below), or order copies from the Minnesota Catholic Conference by calling 651-227-8777.
Essential Background
- Response to POLST form revisions
- Minnesota Catholic Health Care Directive
- Guide to Minnesota Catholic Health Care Directive
- A Pastoral Statement on Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST)
- "Now and at the Hour of Our Death," the Catholic end-of-life resources website
- Catholic Bio-ethics Advocacy
Additional Resources
- Four Problems with Physician-Assisted Suicide
- Assisted Suicide Is Not Compassion
- The Courier: The Dignity of the Human Person and POLST
- A Pastoral Statement on Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST)
- Q&A from the USCCB Committee on Doctrine and Committee on Pro-Life Activities regarding The Holy See’s Responses on Nutrition and Hydration for Patients in a “Vegetative State”
- More