The Acts of Convention

Resolved, That the 70th General Convention reaffirms its 1982 resolution (1982-C002a) recognizing and approving the "Living Will" (Advanced Directive) as a beneficial document to be used by individuals as a tool for discussing one's medical wishes before the time of illness and impending death, and encourages both physicians and their patients to more faithfully and honestly pursue such discussions and the execution of such living wills; and be it further

Resolved, That this General Convention urges physicians, nurses, families, patients, surrogates and legislative bodies where necessary, to show aggressive commitment to the concept of allowing peaceful death in a setting that enables the patient to maintain control and dignity, free from intrusion of unwanted and inappropriate technology, and also from intolerable suffering because of under-use of available pain medication, including narcotic drugs; and be it further

Resolved, That the Standing Commission on Human Affairs and Health and other appropriate bodies within the Church be urged to continue to study the complex issues surrounding the quality of life and terminal care, and especially the rightness of refusing life-saving treatments and the inappropriate use of technology in prolonging the act of dying or indefinitely sustaining persons who are in a permanent vegetative state.