Dr. King is a palliative medicine physician and national speaker educating and advocating for the expansion of palliative medicine as the best way to safeguard human dignity at the end of a person’s life.   

Dr. King was inspired to write this book because she discovered from her speaking engagements that there were many misunderstandings related to end-of-life issues from the questions she has received by devout Catholics.

These misunderstandings “impart fear, making this time of life particularly stressful and frightening to navigate,” she explains in her book. “My heart continues to break open and connect with the many people I meet in my audiences. I see patients who struggle with these tough medical issues and who want desperately to remain faithful to the Catholic faith they love. Addressing their questions and commitments became the foundation for this book. The questions the book answers includes:

• What is palliative care, and how is it different from hospice?

• If I am diagnosed with a serious illness, what kinds of questions should I ask my doctor?

• How do I approach thinking about which health care options are best for me, and how do I communicate my preferences to my family?

• What are advance directives, why do they matter, and what is important to include as a Catholic?

• What is a “DNR,” and how should I understand and choose my options around resuscitation?

• What does the Catholic Church say about artificial nutrition and hydration?

•How do I advocate for my loved one’s dignity nearing the end of their life?

Dr. King shares real-life patient stories along with practical medical information to help the reader better understand how to apply faith to health care choices.

In addition to sound medical advice, Dr. King also shares spiritual lessons she’s learned over the past decade through serving patients in this stage of life. This book is of benefit to anyone –including priests, pastoral workers, and health care professionals – wishing to gain a deeper understanding of how to apply Catholic teaching to intricate medical dilemmas.

“I want to impart clarity and provide reassurance,” Dr. King writes. “My hope and prayer are that these pages become for you a trusted, practical tool for tackling with confidence some of life’s toughest decisions.”

Meeting Dates for the 2024-2025 Season:

10/20/24 - White Mass - Dr. Dennis O'Hare -"To Hear and To Heed"

12/8/24 - Fr. Anthony Craig - "The Vocation of Medical Professionals"
1/24/24 - 1/26/25: Retreat with Fr. Brian Fischer 
3/9/25 - Prof. Kevin Vaughan - "Envy" (in the “multi-purpose room”)
4/23/25 - Wednesday at 7 pm, in conjunction with St. Scholastica: Dr. Natalie King - Intensive Caring:  A Practical Handbook for Catholics About Serious Illness and End-Of-Life Care

10/25/25 - White Mass with Speaker Dr. Tod Worner from Word on Fire