AI Article Synopsis

  • February 24, 1957 marked a significant moment in anesthesiology and pain management when Pope Pius XII met with anesthesiologists to discuss the ethical use of opioids at the end of life.
  • The Pope clarified that there is no moral obligation to withhold pain relief, emphasizing that alleviating suffering aligns with Christian values, even if it might hasten death.
  • This discussion highlighted the doctrine of double effect, which justifies administering pain medication for relief despite the potential unintended consequence of shortening life, raising broader ethical questions about new therapies and their implications.

Article Abstract

Sunday February 24, 1957 was a pivotal day in the history of anesthesiology and pain medicine. The leader of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Pius XII met with anesthesiologists attending an international symposium sponsored by the Italian Society of Anesthesiologists entitled, "Anesthesia and the Human Personality". The purpose of this audience was to seek clarification about the use of opioids at the end of life to reduce suffering. Three questions had been formulated from the previous year's Italian Congress of Anesthesiologists and sent to the Holy See on this specific issue. The Pope responded during this audience remarking that there was no moral obligation to withhold pain medication that could elevate suffering. He further remarked that the suppression of consciousness that can occur with opioids was consistent with the spirit of the Christian gospels. Finally, he also stated that it was not morally objectionable to administer opioids even if it might shorten life. The moral philosophy behind these answers is the doctrine of double effect. In essence, administering medications to relieve pain, the primary effect, may also hasten death, the unintended secondary effect. In seeking answers to these questions, the Italian anesthesiologists were at the forefront of a larger and ongoing debate. As new therapies are developed that may have unintended consequences, when it is morally permissible to use them?

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Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.janh.2020.02.001DOI Listing

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