Saving Life or Prolonging Suffering & Death? - Dying Well
Today we are talking with Dr Katie Butler, who lives with husband Scott north of Boston, Massachusetts. Katie completed her surgical and critical care training and was a member of staff at Massachusetts General Hospital for a decade until 2016 when she swapped catheters for crayons promoting herself to homeschool headteacher to her two children.
She's an acclaimed and award winning author with fictional work including “The Dream Keeper Saga” which points families to the Gospel through vivid storytelling. The first four books comprise The Dragon and the Stone, The Prince and the Blight, Lost in the Caverns & The Quest for the Guardians.
Her unique insight into the intersection between medicine and faith have given her an authoritative voice on TV, podcasts and in our discussion today. She has also written two books, the first of which we'll refer to several times:
Between Life and Death: A Gospel-Centered Guide to End-of-Life Medical Care
Glimmers of Grace: A Doctor’s Reflections on Faith, Suffering, and the Goodness of God
Check this blog post to understand more about how Katie's experiences of the hospital Emergency Room (ER) impacted her “nominal Christianity”.
Katie's four fundamental precepts:
Katie's four fundamental precepts:
- Sanctity of mortal life
- God’s authority over life and death
- Mercy and compassion
- Hope in Christ
Organ-supporting measures covered in Part 2 of Between Life and Death:
- Cardiac Arrest/Resuscitation
- Mechanical Ventilation
- Cardiovascular Support
- Artificially Administered Nutrition
- Dialysis
- Brain Injury
BBC Radio 4 "Doctor, Doctor" episode featuring end of life specialist Dr Rachel Clarke.
NHS website with information on planning ahead for end of life care, advanced statement about care wishes, advanced decision to refuse treatment (i.e. a living will) and lasting power of attorney.
Katie mentions this must-read from Ewan Goligher on assisted dying/euthanasia titled "How then shall we die?".
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