If you’ve faced a tough moral dilemma, you know that the right answer isn’t always obvious.
The good news is that Catholics facing difficult ethical situations can find free and faithful answers thanks to the National Catholic Bioethics Center (NCBC).
The NCBC is a nonprofit research and educational institute committed to providing education, guidance, and resources to the Church and society to uphold the dignity of the human person in health care and biomedical research.
NCBC ethicists are on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to answer questions at the intersection of Catholic moral teaching with health care and biomedical research, free of charge.
The submission form for a free personal ethics consultation can be found here.
A service of which all Catholics should be aware
The NCBC launched their Personal Consultations Department some years ago, but it isn’t as widely known as it should be. Countless Catholics find themselves facing complicated moral situations. Their website explains the service in this way:
Are you a doctor, nurse, patient, health care power of attorney, scientific researcher, medical student or resident, or someone else facing tough ethical decisions in health care and biomedical research? Are you a priest, chaplain, friend, family member, or someone else asked to advise on these matters? Our team is here to help you understand and apply the moral teachings of the Catholic Church to the challenges you face.
This service is so important, as medical technology advances so far and fast beyond what most people can understand. Getting a trustworthy Catholic consultation makes a huge difference.
Examples of questions
Over the years, NCBC has helped tens of thousands of Catholics navigate challenging health care decisions. They answer questions about topics that include the following:
- Family members aiding their loved ones with questions about assisted nutrition and hydration, palliative care and hospice, brain death and organ transplantation, or ordinary and extraordinary means
- Nurses, doctors, or other health care workers questioning their level of involvement in the immoral actions of their colleagues, such as abortion, sterilization, or gender transitioning
- Priests, religious, or pastoral care workers who need expert support when asked to offer moral guidance on medical decisions or to explain the Church’s teachings to health care professionals
- Women wondering about the morality of procedures that will cause sterility or therapeutic uses of the contraceptive pill
- Married couples grappling with Church teachings on reproductive technologies
And many, many more!
The necessary disclaimer
The NCBC includes these important caveats:
- This service is intended for real-life decisions, not hypothetical situations or academic research.
- NCBC treats all personal consultation requests as confidential. We will not share your personally identifiable information with third parties without your explicit permission.
- NCBC does not provide medical or legal advice. We offer education, guidance, and resources to help you form your conscience for decisions related to health care and biomedical research.
- NCBC is not a law enforcement or crime victim advocacy organization. If you believe you may be the victim of a crime, please contact law enforcement.
- NCBC may not respond to questions that appear to be insincere, irrational, or inauthentic. Please fill out your information and write your question thoughtfully.
You can expect to receive a response to a written question within five business days. The NCBC also offers a phone number for calls during business hours and an “after hours” phone number, which they specify is “for urgent situations only.”
Don’t hesitate to contact the NCBC if you or a friend or loved one are facing an ethical dilemma. A personalized ethics consultation can being great peace of mind as you determine the right course of action.
And today we celebrate...