‘Buyer beware’ with hospice care
Dear Mr. Wondrash: Hospice, as Fr. Donald Lange described it in the October 21 issue, and as many early proponents, including St. Teresa of Kolkata practiced it, was a beautiful expression of Catholic teaching about the sanctity of life.
However, some who advocate ending human life via questionable or unacceptable means according to the Church now occupy prominent roles within some organizations providing hospice care.
For that reason, due diligence when deciding which hospice to choose, if such care is desired, has never been more important.
Fortunately, those making such weighty decisions can refer to Church teaching and seek guidance from organizations like the National Catholic Bioethics Center https://www.ncbcenter.org and the Patients’ Rights Council https://www.patientsrightscouncil.org/site/about-the-prc/
In addition to researching, writing, teaching, and speaking about current ethical issues, staff at the former answer questions from those facing difficult end-of-life or other ethical issues free of charge.
The latter provides information, education, and resources to promote the sanctity of life by combatting euthanasia, assisted suicide, and other similar evils.
It offers templates for durable power of attorney for health care forms (advance directives) for each state.
Many hospice services provide caring, high quality palliative care that helps people spend their last days on earth peacefully.
However, as with most decisions, when considering hospice and other end-of-life care, Caveat emptor, translated “let the buyer beware,” applies for more than economic reasons.
Margaret F. Karsten
Platteville