Religious advance directives: the convergence of law, religion, medicine, and public health.
Because of the deep interpersonal significance of decisions made at the end of life, it is not surprising that religion has played an important role in patient and family decision making. Specific religious concerns about death and dying have led to religious advance directives. Advance directives offer a case study of models of interaction between religious communities and secular institutions. This paper examines why such directives have been created and how they may affect health care decisions. An analysis of their strengths and weaknesses concludes that specific religious instructions are unnecessary in written directives and may undermine both the religious and health care goals of patients.
Law, Medicine, and Ethics Program, Boston University School of Public Health, School of Medicine, MA 02118-2394.
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Grodin
D016223:Advance Directives / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D002410:Catholicism; D034462:Dissent and Disputes; D006126:Group Processes; D006801:Humans; D007599:Judaism; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D011634:Public Health; D012068:Religion and Medicine; D012945:Social Values; D028761:Withholding Treatment