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Note to Viewers about Living Wills

There are many Advance Healthcare Directives (Living Wills) in circulation these days, but not all of them are in unison with the authentic Teaching of the Catholic Church. This means that before signing a Living Will, Catholics need to thoroughly investigate the fidelity of the Living Will to the Magisterium. Remember that as a Catholic, it is a sin to request an immoral act to be done to yourself in your Advance Healthcare Directive (An example of an immoral act requested in an Advance Healthcare Directive is requesting euthanasia. See resources below for more information on moral and immoral acts requested in an Advance Healthcare Directive.). Furthermore, if you find a Living Will that is faithful to the Magisterium, make sure that it meets the proper legal requirements of your state. You never want to sign a Living Will that could produce legal problems.

The following Living Wills deals with the United States of America. If you reside in a different nation, contact the following organizations to help direct you to find a Pro-Life Living Will in your nation: Here are some Pro-Life Living Wills (Wills To Live):

The Florida Catholic Conference of Bishops has developed a Pro-Life Living Will (Will To Live)
National Right to Life Committee has developed a Will To Live for all 50 states
The best Will To Live in my opinion is developed by the National Catholic Bioethics Center (NCBC): [NCBC-Health Care Proxy and Advance Directive]

Lastly, it is highly encouraged that before making an End-of-Life decision, to have a member of the clergy who is in unison with the Magisterium, give his spiritual guidance in the decision making process.

End-of-Life Decisions: Resources

(Note to Viewers: A good portion of the following resources deals with United States of America. LPCA has done its best to make the resources universal as possible.)

End-of-Life Decisions (EWTN Resources)

A Catholic Guide To End-Of-Life Decisions

Living Wills, End-of-Life Issues ("The World Over" Air Dates: 5/6/2005 and 9/28/2007)

Caring for Persons in the Persistent Vegetative State

Loneliness in the Context of Illness and Dying: A Catholic Perspective

A Patient in a Vegetative State Is a Human Person

Priests for Life Resources about the Evils of Euthanasia

The Florida Catholic Conference- "Life, Death and the Treatment of Dying Patients", 1989

ADDRESS OF JOHN PAUL II TO THE PARTICIPANTS IN THE INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS ON "LIFE SUSTAINING TREATMENTS AND VEGETATIVE STATE: SCIENTIFIC ADVANCES AND ETHICAL DILEMMAS"

Refusing Food and Water to Non-Dying Patients

Message on the End of Life Issues-Center for Life Principles

Moral Guidance for End-of-Life Decisions by Fr. Frank Pavone (7/5/2005)