USCCB outlines concerns about proposed Medicare rule on end-of-life decisions

September 07, 2015

Stating that it is unclear whether the Department of Health and Human Services’ ultimate aim is “to enhance patient autonomy or to save health care costs,” the Office of the General Counsel of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has expressed concern about a proposed Medicare rule on end-of-life directives.

The USCCB called upon the Department of Health and Human Services to “completely exclude counseling and documents that present lethal actions such as assisted suicide or euthanasia as treatment options.”

The bishops’ conference also called for an acknowledgement of “the full range of advance care planning options, including those which rely on discussion and collaboration among family members instead of on pre-packaged documents that may be biased toward withdrawal of treatment.”

 

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Further information:

• USCCB Comments On Medicare’s Proposed Rule On Advance Care Planning (USCCB)
• Comments on Advance Care Planning in Medicare Program (USCCB)