Bioethical Challenges at the End of Life: An Ethical Guide in Catholic Perspective

Death, and with it the end of human life, has been brought back into focus by the pandemic. But — how to deal with death, given medical-technical progress? What is morally justifiable and acceptable? The end of life presents many challenges. In this timely text, the most important bioethical challenges at the end of life are described, followed in each case by an ethical-moral orientation based on the Gospel and the tradition of the Church. Principles are presented pointing beyond death to eternal life, principles without which end-of-life issues cannot be faced responsibly.

Taken up with a refreshing lack of evasion are such pressing issues as various forms of euthanasia, suicide and assisted suicide, ordinary and extraordinary measures at the end of life, life-sustaining measures to consider, and organ transplants. And, hovering all the while in the background: the question of determining the moment of death. The search is on for spiritual insight into how faith and reason may guide us serenely even in the midst of personal grief to mediate bioethical challenges at the end of life in the spirit of Christ — that is, by never overstepping the inviolable dignity of the human being.

RALPH WEIMANN was born in 1976. After studying in the USA, Italy, and Germany, he obtained a diploma in humanities and a bachelor in philosophy, followed by a licentiate in theology. After his ordination to the priesthood, he earned a doctorate in theology in 2010 on the thesis "Dogma and Progress in the Theology of Joseph Ratzinger." He earned a second doctorate in 2013 on the thesis "Bioethics in a Secularized Society." He has worked as a military chaplain since 2015. Rev. Weimann lectures at various colleges and universities in Rome, in particular the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) and the International Online University Domuni.