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Foregoing Medication at the End of Life

Question:

I am very ill and would like to go home. Can I stop taking all the medications?

Answer:

First, our prayers go out to you and your family as you face this medical crisis. We infer that you are in the hospital and want to die at home and cease taking all medications in the process.

Regarding medications, we infer you mean ones that have become futile in taking for one reason or another; in summary, because they are not having the desired remedial effect and perhaps have become counterproductive for one reason or another. The Church doesn’t require the faithful to take medications that have become futile in achieving their medicinal purpose.

However, you mentioned “all” medications. We would counsel you to follow the guidelines of your doctor regarding pain-reducing medications, such as morphine, that can help people and their loved ones better navigate the final days and weeks of one’s life.

In addition, we recommend that you get a Protective Medical Decisions Document from a faithful group like the Patients Rights Council to ensure your medical care follows the universal moral law, i.e., the Church’s moral teachings in this regard. For example, unless they’ve become truly counterproductive, food and fluids are ordinary care that is required, not extraordinary care that can be discontinued.

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