Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services (7th Edition)

The official Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services from the USCCB.

The health care system in the United States is marked by both extraordinary challenges and immense possibilities for good. In these revised Directives, the US Catholic bishops reaffirm the Church's commitment to Catholic health care ministry, in faithful imitation of Jesus Christ, the divine physician.

The Directives aim to reaffirm ethical standards of behavior and provide authoritative guidance on moral issues that face health care today. With authoritative guidance, these revised Seventh Edition (2025) Directives offer insightful responses to many complex issues, including gender dysphoria, end of life, surrogacy in regards to medical decisions, and more.

Especially relevant to institutionally-based Catholic health care services, the Directives are addressed to sponsors, trustees, administrators, chaplains, physicians, health care personnel, and patients or residents of Catholic health care institutions. Readers will find this text a useful tool for giving sound guidance to students and faculty at Catholic medical schools, associations, and hospitals, in addition to all pastors, administrators, doctors, nurses, and staff in health care ministry and related pastoral care.

This edition features:

• The complete text of the 7th Edition of the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services
  
• Carefully designed pages for inviting, organized reading and colored tabs at the top of each page for easy navigation
• A short summary on the back explaining the document’s purpose and audience
• A full index of subjects and topics for easy reference