Medical Principles
Life-Affirming Principles for Medical Decision-Making
Catholic Principles for Medical Decision-Making
HALO’s Principles & Definitions
All provisions of these principles and definitions shall be construed in the furtherance of the Healthcare Advocacy and Leadership Organization (HALO) Mission.
The HALO philosophy is a system of principles guiding the care, support and protection of the life and inherent dignity of all human beings, from the very first moment they are created, when their own developmental process of human life is initiated, and throughout the rest of their lives until death.
Principles
The first and foundational principle of the life-affirming healthcare philosophy is recognition of the common dignity shared by all human beings. This originates in Man being created in the image and likeness of God (imago Dei). From this beginning are three essential truths: (1) man’s dignity is intrinsic, which means it is part of his nature and not given by the state; (2) human life is sacred, which means it is inviolable, special, set apart from nature for man’s relationship with God; and (3) human beings must never be treated as objects.
The second principle of the life-affirming healthcare philosophy is recognition of the equality of all human beings, based upon the principle of solidarity. All human beings are children of God. They have been endowed by their Creator with inalienable rights; chief among these is an equal right to life and an equal claim to that right. Each individual human being is of inestimable value and of equal worth with every other human being. Therefore, no human being nor class of human beings (e.g., the sick, disabled, elderly, poor, preborn) ought ever to be deprived of life for the benefit of other individuals or society.
The third principle of the life-affirming healthcare philosophy is recognition that every human being has a sacred duty to God, our Creator, to protect, care for, and support the well-being of our fellow humans as well as ourselves, whose lives come from Him. Living and pursuit of life should be protected and encouraged for all.
In fulfilling our duty to serve God by caring for, supporting, and protecting the well-being of our fellow human beings and ourselves, we dedicate ourselves to help build a society embracing reverence for the life God gives and protecting individual human beings from the point of their creation, without exception.
Definitions
“Life-affirming healthcare”: medical care in which the paramount principle is the sanctity of life, which means that the life and safety of each person come first and each person receives medical care across their lifespan based on their need for care and never with an intention to hasten death, regardless of their abilities or perceived “quality of life.”
“Life-affirming Advocacy”: the efforts made by individuals and organizations subscribing to the HALO philosophy and promoting the implementation of that philosophy in society.
“Standards of care of the HALO mission”: life-affirming services which meet the accepted professional standards of care for any specific healthcare profession or service, so long as they do not violate, but actually support, the life-affirming healthcare philosophy, mission and duty to protect, care for, and support the well-being of our fellow human beings and ourselves, whose lives we acknowledge to come from our Creator.
“Preborn”: all human beings prior to birth.
“Death”: the separation of the spirit (soul) from the body. After death, the remains of the human body are called a cadaver or corpse. Death ought not to be declared unless there is disintegration (destruction) of cells, tissues, and organs sufficient that the circulatory and respiratory systems are no longer functioning and cannot function again.
Vital signs are common signs of life distinguishing a living person from a corpse. Vital signs, such as heartbeat, blood pressure, and body temperature different than the environment, are signs of a living person. No one ought to be declared dead while vital signs are present. A ventilator can only be effective in a living person, not a corpse. After true death, vital organs are not suitable for transplantation because they are decomposing.
“Natural death”: death that is unimposed or unintended.
“Healthcare service(s)”: any phase of patient medical care, treatment, or procedure, including, but not limited to, the following: patient referral, counseling, therapy, testing, diagnosis or prognosis, research, instruction, prescribing, dispensing or administering any device, drug, or medication, surgery, or any other care or treatment rendered by healthcare providers or healthcare institutions.
“Healthcare provider(s)”: any individual who may be asked to participate in any way in a healthcare service, including, but not limited to, the following: a physician, physician’s assistant, nurse practitioner, nurse, nurses’ aide, medical assistant, hospital employee, clinic employee, nursing home employee, behavioral health services provider, pharmacist, pharmacy employee, researcher, medical or nursing school faculty, student or employee, counselor, social worker, or any professional, paraprofessional, or any other person who furnishes, or assists in the furnishing of, healthcare services.
“Healthcare institution”: any public or private organization, corporation, partnership, sole proprietorship, association, agency, network, joint venture, or other entity that is involved in providing healthcare services, including but not limited to: adoption agencies and orphanages; assisted-living centers; hospices and palliative care centers; hospitals; clinics; home healthcare agencies; medical centers; ambulatory surgical centers; behavioral health services practices and centers; rehabilitation facilities and centers; pregnancy resource centers; physicians’ offices; pharmacies; nursing homes; undergraduate or graduate medical, nursing, pharmacological or other allied-health professional training schools; or other institutions or locations.
Questions? Contact the Healthcare Advocacy and Leadership Organization (HALO) at feedback@HALOVoice.org.