...Until Natural Death
Building a consistent end-of-life bioethic in our community.
Lawyers for Life Initiative:
Anyone wishing to have a pro-life medical directive like a healthcare power of attorney or other legal document should consult an attorney for assistance. We are working to build a coalition of "Lawyers for Life" who are willing to take legal referrals as self-identified pro-life attorneys, who are otherwise willing to assist GCRTL within their specialty, or who are willing to assist us with an upcoming legal clinic to allow individuals to execute advanced directives at low or no cost. If you are interested in the referral list, volunteering at a legal clinic, or just learning a little more about what we are up to, please connect with us via the Lawyers for Life initiative intake form.
Anyone wishing to have a pro-life medical directive like a healthcare power of attorney or other legal document should consult an attorney for assistance. We are working to build a coalition of "Lawyers for Life" who are willing to take legal referrals as self-identified pro-life attorneys, who are otherwise willing to assist GCRTL within their specialty, or who are willing to assist us with an upcoming legal clinic to allow individuals to execute advanced directives at low or no cost. If you are interested in the referral list, volunteering at a legal clinic, or just learning a little more about what we are up to, please connect with us via the Lawyers for Life initiative intake form.
Join our effort to stop Assisted Suicide in Ohio:
Central Ohio Lawmaker and former Chairwoman of the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation Charletta Tavares has recently indicated that she plans to introduce legislation to enact assisted suicide in Ohio. Learn more about the proposal and join our effort to stop it.
Central Ohio Lawmaker and former Chairwoman of the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation Charletta Tavares has recently indicated that she plans to introduce legislation to enact assisted suicide in Ohio. Learn more about the proposal and join our effort to stop it.
Conversations: End of Live Series

For nearly 45 years, Greater Columbus Right to Life has focused on building a culture that protects innocent human life, from conception until natural death. During that time, much of our emphasis has been on the legal and ethical issues affecting life at its earliest stages - abortion, embryonic stem cell research, and the destruction of embryos through IVF. In recent years, we have fought back against the chipping away of religious freedom and rights of conscience. Increasingly, however, we are concerned about legal and ethical challenges which are increasingly confronting individuals at the end of their life. There is great confusion regarding advanced directives, especially for the terminally ill. A movement to enact laws authorizing assisted suicide and euthanasia is growing. Five US States now have legal assisted suicide, and well-funded advocates are pushing laws in other states - including right here in Ohio.
For this reason, our fall Conversations Speaker series will focus on end-of-life issues, covering such topics as the basic of an end-of-life bioethic, navigating legal documents like Healthcare Power of Attorney vs Living Will, legal and legislative updates, the lessons learned in Belgium, and more. Learn More, or access resources.
For this reason, our fall Conversations Speaker series will focus on end-of-life issues, covering such topics as the basic of an end-of-life bioethic, navigating legal documents like Healthcare Power of Attorney vs Living Will, legal and legislative updates, the lessons learned in Belgium, and more. Learn More, or access resources.
Suggested Resources
Ohio is one of only a small number of states that require doctors to honor advance directives regarding food and fluids treatment. Learn more in this report from NRLC's Robert Powell Medical Ethic Center
The Patients’ Rights Council has developed a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care document called the Protective Medical Decisions Document (orderable online for a suggested donation)
Due to the broad language that is used in many of the recommended living wills, the pro-life community has developed various "Wills to Live" that adhere to the state-by state requirements for advanced directives. For those residing in Ohio, this sample has been suggested by National Right to Life and many organizations including Priests for Life, Joni and Friends, and the Terri Schiavo Life and Hope Foundation direct people to consider it as a prolife alternative to living wills.
National and International Organizations
National Catholic Bioethics Center
The NCBC offers free consultation service by a credentialed bioethicist who can share with you the Catholic principles for addressing an ethical dilemma involving health care or the life sciences. Regular and emergency assistance are available.
The NCBC offers free consultation service by a credentialed bioethicist who can share with you the Catholic principles for addressing an ethical dilemma involving health care or the life sciences. Regular and emergency assistance are available.
Euthanasia Prevention Coalition