Daily Christian Journey

Navigating End-of-Life Care: A Christian Perspective

As a physician, I have witnessed the power of modern critical care to save lives. However, I have also seen the dark side of medical technology, where aggressive interventions can prolong suffering and rob us of our ability to speak with loved ones and with God in our final days.

The Problem of Suffering

When illness cannot be cured, medical interventions can become a source of suffering rather than comfort. Ventilators can steal both voice and consciousness, while resuscitation can look like assault. In the ICU, patients often awake in panic, finding themselves physically strapped to a foreign bed, deprived of the familiarity and comfort of home.

A Christian Response

As Christians, we cling to the hope that death is not the end. Our faith in Christ assures us of a restoration of our bodies and a new order where no sickness, infirmity, or death blots the glory of God’s creation (Rev. 21:4). This hope should inform our approach to end-of-life care, guiding us to prioritize comfort and compassion over aggressive interventions that may offer minimal hope for recovery.

Comfort Measures Only

In “comfort measures only” (CMO), physicians discontinue interventions that induce pain and agitation, instead providing treatments to control symptoms. This approach prioritizes peacefulness as death nears, allowing patients to spend their final days surrounded by loved ones, free from the burden of medical technology.

Key Principles for End-of-Life Care

Christian bioethics offers four key principles to guide us in making critical end-of-life decisions:

1. Respect for human life: We should protect life, but not require individuals to endure aggressive interventions that inflict suffering without benefit.
2. Compassion: We should prioritize comfort and symptom management, ensuring that patients receive intensive, compassionate, and personalized medical attention.
3. Stewardship: We should recognize that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, and that our stewardship of life matters until the very end.
4. Hope: We should cling to the hope of eternal life in Christ, recognizing that death is not the end, but a transition to a new heavens and a new earth.

Conclusion

End-of-life care is a complex and emotionally charged issue. As Christians, we must approach this topic with compassion, wisdom, and hope. By prioritizing comfort, compassion, and symptom management, we can ensure that patients receive the best possible care, while also honoring the value of human life and the promise of eternal life in Christ.