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Death: Our Birth into Eternal life Fr. Joseph Baker |
The following article is the next installment in a series that will appear in the Catholic Herald to offer catechesis and formation concerning end-of-life decisions, dying, death, funerals, and burial of the dead from the Catholic perspective.
Last week, we began to explore the topic of advance health care planning.
This planning is necessary not only because of modern medical advancements, but most especially because we may find ourselves in a position when we are not able to express our wishes about the use of a particular treatment at the end of life.
That being said, not all forms of advance health care planning are equal.
Best form of advance directive
Power of Attorney for Health Care (POA) is the best form of advance directive, allowing for real-time decisions to be made following Catholic values and principles.
A POA authorizes a health care agent to make health care decisions on your behalf should you become incapacitated. It is activated when two physicians (or a physician and a licensed psychologist) examine you and sign a statement that the patient is incapacitated.
POAs are the preferred form of advance health care planning because they give agents the latitude to offer appropriate care based on actual end-of-life conditions and circumstances.
While POA directives allow for written instructions, they cannot predict every possible scenario and must be interpreted by your agent.
Therefore, you are encouraged to discuss your values and principles with the person you have chosen to make health care decisions for you.
You also are encouraged to discuss this matter with your physician and pastor.
By appointing a health care agent, you can make sure that they will make decisions using the same Catholic values and principles as you would do.
For those wishing to create a Power of Attorney for Health Care there are several steps.
POA forms are available online from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services website.
In paperwork, the person creating the POA is known as the principal.
For members of the same family, each individual adult must complete a separate POA form.
So, for example, a husband and wife must each have their own POA form filled-out and in place.
Making important choices
The most important choice when creating a POA is the designation of health care agent and an alternate should the primary be unavailable.
There are limitations as to who can be your health care agent.
It cannot be a health care provider (or their spouse) unless that person is a relative.
Similarly, it cannot be an employee (or their spouse) of the health care facility in which you are a patient unless that person is a relative.
Because of the nature of the decisions involved, your agent should be a mature adult and should accept the designation.
Talk beforehand to the person you wish to appoint and find out if they are willing to accept the responsibility.
Tell the person about your values and principles for making decisions, and be sure the person is willing and able to follow them.
As Catholics, we hold a special regard for the dignity and sanctity of every human person, including at the end of life.
It is therefore imperative to ensure that the person you designate to make health care decisions for you applies the teachings of the Church to their decision-making processes.
Furthermore, while one’s physical, emotional, and social needs at the end of life are important to consider, it is particularly important that one’s spiritual needs be addressed.
Because of the eternal consequences, any potential agent must understand the necessity of receiving the Sacraments.
If possible, the Sacraments of Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, and the Eucharist as viaticum should be made available.
Executing the form
In order to execute the POA form, it must be signed by yourself and by two witnesses at the same time. A lawyer is not necessary.
However, if you have legal questions regarding advance health care planning, you should contact a lawyer.
The witness cannot be under the age of 18; related to you by blood, marriage, or adoption; financially responsible for your health care; a health care provider who is directly serving you at the time that the document is signed; an employee of your health care provider or health care facility (exempting chaplains and social workers) who is directly serving you at the time that the document is signed; the person you designated as your health care agent or the alternate; or someone who is entitled to or has a claim against any portion of your estate.
Eventually, the POA form must be signed by the designated health care agent and the alternate, although this does not need to be done at the same time when it is signed by the principal and the two witnesses.
The original signed form, a legible photocopy, and an electronic facsimile copy are all presumed to be valid.
For ease of future reference, it is recommended that a copy be given to one’s health care provider to be included in your electronic health records.
At the same time as the POA form is executed, a Catholic Addendum should be signed by yourself and the same two witnesses.
In particular, the Wisconsin Catholic Conference has created a very solid addendum, clearly spelling out Catholic values and principles.
This includes the principle of therapeutic proportionality, the obligation to provide nutrition and hydration, the opposition to suicide and euthanasia, and the use of pain management therapies among other issues.
We commend our dying brothers and sisters to almighty God, and entrust them to their Creator. May they return to Him who formed them from the dust of the earth.
May holy Mary, the angels, and all the saints come to meet them as they go forth from this life.
May Christ who was crucified for them bring them freedom and peace.
May Christ who died for them admit them into His garden of paradise.
May Christ, the true Shepherd, acknowledge them as members of His flock.
May they see the Redeemer face to face, and enjoy the vision of God for ever.
Amen.
Fr. Joseph Baker is the ethicist for the Diocese of Madison and the pastor of Blessed Trinity Parish in Dane and Lodi.