The Catechism on Euthanasia

The wisdom of the Church on Euthanasia:

Those whose lives are diminished or weakened deserve special respect. Sick or handicapped persons should be helped to lead lives as normal as possible.

2277

Whatever its motives and means, direct euthanasia consists in putting an end to the lives of handicapped, sick, or dying persons. It is morally unacceptable.

Thus an act or omission which, of itself or by intention, causes death in order to eliminate suffering constitutes a murder gravely contrary to the dignity of the human person and to the respect due to the living God, his Creator. The error of judgment into which one can fall in good faith does not change the nature of this murderous act, which must always be forbidden and excluded.

2278

Discontinuing medical procedures that are burdensome, dangerous, extraordinary, or disproportionate to the expected outcome can be legitimate; it is the refusal of "over-zealous" treatment. Here one does not will to cause death; one's inability to impede it is merely accepted. The decisions should be made by the patient if he is competent and able or, if not, by those legally entitled to act for the patient, whose reasonable will and legitimate interests must always be respected.

2279

Even if death is thought imminent, the ordinary care owed to a sick person cannot be legitimately interrupted. The use of painkillers to alleviate the sufferings of the dying, even at the risk of shortening their days, can be morally in conformity with human dignity if death is not willed as either an end or a means, but only foreseen and tolerated as inevitable. Palliative care is a special form of disinterested charity. As such it should be encouraged.

I wish now that I had read the Catechism when I went into practice. For most of us doctors, we adhered to the "quality of life" paradigm for making ethical decisions and pretty much "flew by the seat of our pants." I never intentionally gave medication to hasten a patient's death but I believe that I didn't truly understand that Life is A Good, and itself is of utmost value regardless of what our society views as "Quality."
60 years ago in Germany, a man felt that Jews, gypsies, homosexuals , mentally retarded, and Catholic priests didn't have a very good "quality of Life" and for the sake of the "good of the society" and attempted a solution known as the Holocaust. God have mercy on us!