The Assisted Suicide Debate in Illinois: Terms and Organizations Defined

Deliberate intervention to end a patient’s life, such as administering a lethal dose of medication.

A legal document through which an individual may designate a specific person to make health care decisions for them should they become incapable of making decisions, and which may declare the health care treatments they would desire should incapacitation occur. Advance medical directives vary from state to state, but can be used as a way for Catholics to ensure that end-of-life treatment decisions made on their behalf are consistent with the moral teachings of the Church.

The act of intentionally helping someone else end his or her own life, usually by providing them with the means or information to do so.

The principle that individuals have the right to make their own decisions about their own lives, including medical treatment and end-of-life choices.

Conscientious objection refers to the refusal to participate in specific activities or practices based on deeply held moral, ethical, or religious beliefs. Individuals who assert conscientious objection typically do so to avoid involvement in actions they perceive as conflicting with their personal convictions.

A “do not resuscitate” order is signed by a physician and instructs health care providers not to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) if a patient’s heartbeat or breathing stops. An adult patient, or their surrogate, must consent to a DNR order. For Catholics, deciding about DNR involves weighing the burdens and benefits of CPR in each specific situation, determining if it is ordinary or extraordinary treatment.

A moral principle that provides guidance when an action or omission will have two consequences, one of which is moral and intended, and the other is evil and not intended, even though foreseen. For example, medications intended to alleviate pain that have the foreseen but unintended consequence of hastening death may be morally permissible if the benefit is proportional.

The intentional act of causing the death of a person who is suffering from a terminal illness or an incurable condition, with the aim of relieving their pain and suffering.

• Medical treatments that do not offer a reasonable hope of benefit or entail excessive burdens, including medical, financial, personal, familial and social burdens. Extraordinary treatments are morally optional because one is not required to do everything possible to preserve one’s life, and when the burdens and consequences are out of proportion to the beneficial results anticipated, one may decline the treatment (Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care).

A traditional code of ethics for physicians that includes the commitment to do no harm and preserve life.

A decision freely made in the full possession of one’s mental faculties and with adequate knowledge of all relevant medical and moral consequences. The free and informed consent of the patient or the patient’s surrogate is required for medical treatments and procedures except in emergency situations where consent cannot be obtained and there is no indication the patient would refuse consent.

Euthanasia conducted without the explicit consent of the patient.

A euphemism for physician-assisted suicide.

Medical treatments which offer a reasonable hope of benefit without entailing excessive burdens on the patient or others. Ordinary treatments are morally obligatory; they are considered “proportionate” to the benefits expected. For example, the benefits of insulin for an otherwise healthy person who needs it for diabetes, and who lives in the United States where it is inexpensive and convenient to obtain, are so great compared with the burdens of daily injections, that it should, barring unforeseen unusual circumstances, be considered a moral obligation.

These include:

• Aid-in-dying
• Compassionate Option
• Medical Aid in Dying Law
• Mercy Killing
• Right-to-die

Specialized medical care focused on providing relief from the symptoms and stress of a serious illness, with the goal of improving the quality of life for the patient and their family.

Allowing a patient to die by withholding or withdrawing medical treatment or life-sustaining measures.

An alternate term for physician-assisted suicide, which avoids such language because “the killing of the person is explicitly or structurally coerced, or both” (Charles Camosy, Living and Dying Well).

A form of assisted suicide in which a physician provides the necessary means or information for a patient to self-administer a lethal dose of medication.

A subjective measure of an individual’s overall well-being, taking into consideration physical health, emotional well-being, and other factors.

Suicide is the intentional act of taking one’s own life, involving self-inflicted harm or death, often driven by a complex interplay of psychological, social, and environmental factors. It is a tragic and serious public health concern that requires compassionate understanding and comprehensive prevention efforts.

You can learn more about a Catholic understanding of and response to the tragedy of suicide here.

A medical condition with no known cure that is expected to result in the death of the patient.

Euthanasia performed with the explicit and voluntary consent of the patient, who has expressed a desire to die.