They include attention to the characteristics and boundaries of meaningful life, the burdens and benefits for both person and community, the exercise and limits of human freedom. Prayerful consideration of these issues within a loving community is encouraged. The statement also declares that pastoral care is essential for all persons involved in making such decisions. Guilt and stigma among survivors is of particular concern. It also has suggestions for group discussion and sample copies of advanced directives that may help families who find themselves in circumstances such as those experienced by the Cruzan family.
Death comes to individuals.
It begins when one is born and should not be viewed as a static event at the end of life. Each human life and death is the result of a complex variety of psychological, spiritual, cultural, economic and physical factors. So let us not be too hasty in our judgement of each others thoughts and actions about it or too quick to assume we know how death should come for others.