The Pope's Final Amen
A good death. Though his last will and testament released by the Vatican cites no medical directive, the pontiff made his views crystal clear through his many teachings that were as much religious as they were common sense and humane: Doctors are not "lords of life" but "skilled and generous servants" caring for the sick and dying, offering treatments to cure their patients if possible but always enabling them to bear their sufferings with ease and dignity. He preached that doctors not embark on futile treatment or extraordinary measures when death is imminent and inevitable. But at the same time they should not hasten death. And to him a good death was one in the comfort of family, doctors and nurses, and loving friends.
He lived his words. The 84-year-old holy father made his choices as his health rapidly declined. He accepted antibiotics, a tracheotomy, a feeding tube, and two hospitalizations over his last five weeks, but as things grew bleaker, he rejected an intensive care unit, kidney dialysis, or organ resuscitation. Without this, his life faded softly to a final amen. And, perhaps with a wink, he lasted for a time well beyond what Vatican doctors had been predicting.
Heaven only knows the moment of birthing and dying, the eternal bookends of all our lives. But we do know they are neither pain free nor predictable. And control of the final moments are unlikely to be in our hands, however high-tech or directive we mortals become.
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