Introduction
Catholic Church keeps an eye on social problems, such as poverty, abortion, euthanasia, drugs and alcohol addiction, peace, justice, freedom, and many others. In order to enlighten and organize people to work for social well-being, Catholic Church developed its social teaching that concerns many keen issues of modern society.
There are many themes in Catholic social teaching. They concern human dignity, community, and common good, rights and responsibilities, option for the poor and vulnerable, participation, stewardship of creation, solidarity, role of government, and promotion of peace. All of them in different ways are tied with health care system and need help from medical professionals. ("Seven Themes Of Catholic Social Teaching")
The core of Catholic social teaching is human dignity. The role of doctors and nurses in this question is valuable because they help people to recover, survive, and in some situations, they even can save a person from death. Unborn children and ill people who are in a vegetative state have the similar rights to live as ordinary human beings. Catholic Church states that abortion is an “unspeakable crime” because it kills the unprotected creature. ("Evangelium Vitae (25 March 1995) | John Paul II") Euthanasia, is considered by many people, including some doctors and politicians, as a merciful act, because in their opinion such people suffer from pain and weakness and their relatives have to take care of them. It is very important to know that a sick person in the vegetative state is waiting for recovery or a natural death and has a right to medical care. ("To The Participants In The International Congress On "Life-Sustaining Treatments And Vegetative State: Scientific Advances And Ethical Dilemmas" (March 20, 2004) | John Paul II") The mission of doctors and nurses is to protect a person’s right to life, to persuade the mother to save her child and convince people that their suffering relative needs their love and support. Much depends on a correct diagnosis, thus, doctors must be attentive and professional because they are responsible for people’s lives.
The principle of solidarity calls people to be united whatever their racial, cultural, economic, and ideological differences. All the people are brothers and sisters and the core of solidarity is to protect justice and peace. The Gospel invites people to be peacemakers and search for justice in order to achieve peace. ("V World Day For Peace 1972: If You Want Peace, Work For Justice | Paul VI") It is a pity but there are many wars are being waged nowadays and the half of the world is on fire. The help of doctors and nurses is needed in the battlefields and in conflict zones, for soldiers and civil people.
Community and the common good. People are not only sacred but also social. The correct organization of economics, politics, law and policy greatly affect human dignity and the ability of people to develop in the community. A family is the central social institution, the cell of society. Marriage is one of the Church sacraments. It is a special environment where husband and wife give a life to their children and provide them with all necessary things that are essential for developing their potentialities. ("Centesimus Annus (1 May 1991) | John Paul II") A happy family is a basis for common good. Nurses and doctors lead people from their birth to the last hour of life. Proper medical assistance and wise advice are very important for families, especially for the new ones. Doctors and nurses can help families to avoid such irreversible mistakes as abortion, euthanasia, and artificial insemination. They can also maintain the family’s physical and psychological health that is essential and very often prevent divorces.
Conclusion
Coming into conclusion, it should be said that the role of nurses and doctors in social well- being is very important because “nursing is the protection, promotion, and optimization of health and abilities, prevention of illness and injury, facilitation of healing, alleviation of suffering through the diagnosis and treatment of human response, and advocacy in the care of individuals, families, groups, communities, and populations.” ("What Is Nursing?") It is clear that the mission of medical professionals connected to social problems and the help of doctors and nurses is inestimable in realization principles of Catholic social teaching that aim to develop prosperous and well-being society.
Works Cited
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"Evangelium Vitae (25 March 1995) | John Paul II". W2.vatican.va. N.p., 2016. Web. 7 Aug.
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"Seven Themes Of Catholic Social Teaching". Usccb.org. N.p., 2016. Web. 7 Aug. 2016.
"To The Participants In The International Congress On "Life-Sustaining Treatments And
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John Paul II". W2.vatican.va. N.p., 2016. Web. 7 Aug. 2016.
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