Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia
Visit the To Live Each Day with Dignity page, featuring the U.S. Bishops' Policy Statement on Assisted Suicide and other resources! Find additional resources about assisted suicide and euthanasia below.
News Releases and Statements
Assisted Suicide Videos
Watch Maggie, Jeanette & John tell their stories of why they oppose assisted suicide.
Resources
- Church Documents and Teachings
- Fact Sheets
- Articles and Publications
- Columns and Commentary
- Legal Briefs
- Testimony and Letters
- News Releases and Statements
Church Documents and Teachings
- Samaritanus bonus: on the care of persons in the critical and terminal phases of life, Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, September 22, 2020 (en español)
- To Live Each Day with Dignity: A Statement on Physician-Assisted Suicide, USCCB, June 2011 (en español)
- Responses to Certain Questions Concerning Artificial Nutrition and Hydration, Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, August 1, 2007 (en español)
- Commentary on Nutrition and Hydration, Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, August 1, 2007 (en español)
- Address of John Paul II to the Participants in the International Congress on Life-Sustaining Treatments and the Vegetative State, March 20, 2004 (en español)
- Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services, Sixth Edition, USCCB, June 2018
Fact Sheets
- Assisted Suicide Laws in Oregon and Washington: What Safeguards?, June 2025
- Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia: Beyond Terminal Illness, February 19, 2018
- Top Reasons to Oppose Assisted Suicide, July 12, 2017
- Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia: From Voluntary to Involuntary, June 28, 2017
- Suicide and Assisted Suicide: The Role of Depression, June 1, 2017
- Physician-Assisted Suicide: Threat to Improved Palliative Care, April 3, 2017
- Q & A on Nutrition and Hydration for Patients in a "Vegetative State", September, 2007
- The U.S. Supreme Court's 1997 Decisions on Assisted Suicide, June 13, 1998
- Assisted Suicide: What is at Stake?, May 19, 1998
Articles and Publications
- Life Matters: Doctor-Assisted Death, by William L. Toffler, MD, 2012 (en español)
- Life Matters: To the End of Our Days, 2011 (en español)
- Caring for Each Other, Even Unto Death, by Marie T. Hilliard, PhD, 2010 (en español)
- Assisted Suicide: Death by “Choice”?, by Rita Marker, Esq., 2009 (en español)
- John Paul II: Dying with Dignity, by Rev. J. Daniel Mindling, O.F.M. Cap., 2005 (en español)
- Human Dignity in the 'Vegetative' State, by Richard Doerflinger, 2004 (en español)
- Physician-assisted Suicide: The Wrong Approach to End of Life Care, by F. Michael Gloth, III, M.D., 2003 (en español)
- Hope for the Journey: Meaningful Support for the Terminally Ill, by Kathy Kalina, RN, CRNH, 2001 (en español)
- False Freedom and the Culture of Death, by Richard Doerflinger, 2000 (en español)
- Dying Well, Assisted Suicide, and the Law, by Cathleen Kavney, 1999 (en español)
- Killing the Pain, Not the Patient, by Richard Doerflinger and Carlos F. Gomez, M.D., 1998
- The Quality of Life: Who's the Judge?, by Richard Doerflinger,1996
Columns and Commentary
- Dependent, by Aaron Matthew Weldon, Life Issues Forum, March 13, 2015 (en español)
- "Together We Survive", by Tom Grenchik, Life Issues Forum, February 13, 2015 (en español)
- The Public Relations of Death, by Richard Doerflinger, Life Issues Forum, January 16, 2015 (en español)
- Are We Not Dying Fast Enough? by Tom Grenchik, Life Issues Forum, August 29, 2014 (en español)
- Cardinal O'Malley's Remarks on the Defeated Massachusetts Ballot Initiative - USCCB General Assembly, November 2012
- Hospice for Pets—Suicide for People?, by Mary McClusky, May 13, 2011 (en español)
- Hope: A Vital Force More Powerful Than Death, by Kimberly Baker, Life Issues Forum, October 29, 2010 (en español)
- Health Care Reform and a Dispute About Dying, by Richard Doerflinger, August 21, 2009 (en español)
- The Price of Life, by Mary J, McClusky, Life Issues Forum, August 8, 2008
- Using "States' Rights" to Do Wrong, by Richard Doerflinger, Life Issues Forum, October 7, 2005
- Terri Schiavo and the Echoes of Abortion, by Cathy Cleaver Ruse, Life Issues Forum, March 31, 2005
- Pope's Speech is About Human Dignity, by Richard Doerflinger, Life Issues Forum, April 8, 2004
- The Life You Save May Be Your Own, by Susan E. Wills, Life Issues Forum, February 22, 2008
- Caring for Grandma Helen, by Mary E. Jaminet, Life Issues Forum, February 8, 2008
- Seeing People as God sees Them, by Tom Grenchik, Life Issues Forum, October 5, 2007
Legal Briefs
- Alberto Gonzales, Attorney General, et al. v. State of Oregon, et al. May 9, 2005
- State of Oregon, et al., v. John Ashcroft, September 30, 2002, (from the Office of General Counsel)
- Nancy Beth Cruzan, et al. v. Director of Missouri Department of Health, et al. October, 1989
Testimony and Letters
- Comments on CMS Request for Information on Assisted Suicide in Hospice Care, June 1, 2026
- Support Letter for H.Con.Res 68, February 2022
- Comments on Advance Care Planning in Medicare Program, September 2015
- On the Pain Relief Promotion Act, Letter to Senate, Richard M. Doerflinger, November 3, 2000
- Pain Relief Promotion Act, Letter to Senate, Gail Quinn, October 4, 2000
- On Pain Relief Promotion Act of 2000, Testimony to Senate Judiciary Committee, April 25, 2000
- Urgently Needed Legislation on the Pain Relief Promotion Act, Letter to Senate Judiciary Committee, Cardinal Keeler, April 5, 2000
- Urging Senate Support of the Pain Relief Promotion Act, Letter to Senate, Cardinal Keeler, November 5, 1999
- On the Pain Relief Promotion Act of 1999, Statement of USCCB, Cardinal Keeler, June 17, 1999
- On Lethal Drug Abuse Prevention Act, Letter to Congress, Rev. Msgr. Dennis M. Schnurr, June 12, 1998
- U.S. Supreme Court Ruling on Assisted Suicide, Statement of USCCB, Cardinal Bernard Law, June 26, 1997
- Ethical, Legal and Social Issues of Assisted Suicide, Testimony to House Commerce Subcommittee on Health and the Environment, Cardinal Bernard Law, March 6, 1997
- The Treatment of Infants Born with Handicapping Conditions, Statement to the House Education and Labor Subcommittee on Select Education, Rev. Edward Bryce, October 1982
News Releases and Statements
- USCCB Comments On Medicare's Proposed Rule On Advance Care Planning, September 4, 2015
- Cardinal O’Malley: New Vermont Assisted Suicide Law Reveals Slippery Slope, May 21, 2013
- To Live Each Day with Dignity: A Statement on Physician-Assisted Suicide, USCCB, June 2011 (en español) (Order)
- Bishops Approve Items on Marriage, Reproductive Technologies, Medically Assisted Nutrition And Hydration, November 18, 2009
- Cardinal Keeler Mourns Tragic Death of Terri Schiavo, March 31, 2005
- In Newsday Op-Ed, Bishops' Official Says Terri Schiavo Deserves Nourishment and Care, March 24, 2005
- Cardinal Keeler Says Terri Schiavo Deserves Basic Care, March 24, 2005
- Bishops' Official Thanks Congress And The President For Giving Terri Schiavo A Chance To Live, March 21, 2005
- Bishops' Official Applauds Justice Department Appeal of Oregon Assisted Suicide Case, November 10, 2004
- Bishops' Official Criticizes 9th Circuit Approval of Assisted Suicide in Oregon, May 27, 2004
- Comments on Oregon's Third Year of Physician-Assisted Suicide, February 21, 2001
- Statement on Attorney General's Decision on the use of Federally Regulated Drugs for Assisted Suicide, June 5, 1998
- Statement on Oregon's First Physician-Assisted Suicide (1998), March 27, 1998
- Statement on U.S. Supreme Court Rulings on Assisted Suicide, June 26, 1997
- Pro-Life Committee Backs New Rule on Treating Handicapped, April 7, 1983