Msg Base:  AREA 5  - ASK FATHER            CIN ECHO   AMDG
  Msg No: 258.  Mon  3-09-92 22:30  (NO KILL)  (MAILED)
    From: Father Mateo
      To: Richard Evert
 Subject: Extreme Life Support Measures

+-
| What is the Church's teaching regarding the following questions.
| 1.  Is there any circumstance when a document outlining witholding of
| medial treatment for an individual could be drawn up?
| 2.  Can family members make decisions to avoid extreme life saving
| measures for comatose patients?
| 3.  How, if at all, would financial considerations be taken into account
| in making continuation of life support decisions?
| Knowing that life is a precious gift from God, and that it is His will for
| us to use it for His glory, and that it is His and only His to take away,
| it is confusing when the reality of modern 'artificial' life support
| measures are considered.
| Thank You for your time.
+-[RE=>FM]
 
Dear Richard,
 
There are two books I can recommend which will help you to answer
your questions:
 
1) Eileen P. Flynn
   Hard Decisions
   Published by Sheed and Ward
 
2) Medical Ethics: a Catholic Guide to Health Care Decisions
   Published by Liguori Press.
 
                                Sincerely in Christ,
 
                                Father Mateo