Will a Catholic hospital refer me for medical aid in dying?
No. Catholic hospitals do not provide medical aid in dying. That holds even in states where it is legal. The seventh edition of the Ethical and Religious Directives added a rule on referral in 2025.
Directive 27 takes up requests for care that Catholic teaching does not accept. In those cases, it says, "health care professionals may not refer the patient to another professional for the purpose of obtaining that intervention." That is the referral ban.
The same directive then turns to transfers. Say a patient or surrogate asks to move to a doctor or facility "that he or she has independently chosen." Then staff "should facilitate a safe transfer of care in compliance with legal and professional requirements while avoiding immoral cooperation."
In practice, you may need to find an outside provider yourself. Then ask for your records and a safe handover. If you are working to a timeline, start that early rather than late.
It also helps to know whether your hospital is Catholic. Find that out before a crisis, not during one. Many Catholic systems run under names that do not sound religious. Patients often find out partway through treatment. The admissions office can tell you directly.
Whatever you decide, put your wishes in writing. The National Cancer Institute explains how a living will and a health care proxy work, and why they are worth completing early.
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Want the full picture? Read our complete explanation: Catholic Teaching on Assisted Dying and Cancer
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