BS... 
Posted on 09/24/2007 3:11:29 PM PDT by presidio9
A new article by an Italian medical professor speculates the death of Pope John Paul the Second was caused by euthanasia. According to "TIME" magazine, an intensive care specialist says the Pope's death would be considered euthanasia by standards set by the Catholic Church. The doctor bases her conclusion on press reports and a book written by the Pope's physician. She says the decision not to insert a feeding tube until just a few days before his death accelerated the death of the ailing pontiff. Plus, the doctor believes the Pope himself made the decision not to insert the tube after consulting with medical professionals. He had been hospitalized twice before his 2005 death. Catholics are told to take any effort to prolong life. The article appears in an Italian magazine critical of the church's stance on medical ethics. The doctor says she decided to revisit the Pope's death after a recent ruling by the Catholic Church on euthanasia.
“She says the decision not to insert a feeding tube until just a few days before his death accelerated the death of the ailing pontiff. Plus, the doctor believes the Pope himself made the decision not to insert the tube after consulting with medical professionals. “
I’m not Catholic but I know that when it’s time to go ... you go with the flow. He let GOD decide without interfering via a feeding tube.
The article is a model of objectivity.
I’m sure.
/sarc
My Grandmother took the same route
- NO herois efforts to keep her alive.
Let GOD call her home when HE wants her.
NO feeding tube!
Either they withheld the feeding tube or they didn’t. Now was the cause of death starvation? Hmmm?
This article sucks bad.
Not inserting a feeding tube on a patient who chooses not to, is not euthanasia. My in-laws had explicit Living Wills and Health Care Surrogacy papers, and their instructions were...no feeding tube or ventilator. They specified hydration, and medication, so that’s what we did. They were not euthanised (they were 86 and 93 years old when they passed away.)
I’ve been in hospitals where patients who were non-response were being kept alive by feeding tube and ventilators for years, and their families had only agreed to such measures after feeling pressured by medical personnel.
It probably was the result of a miscommunication. Somebody may have heard the Pontiff praying for all of the “youth in Asia”....
I read not long ago that he died naturally.
Exactly. If a feeding tube is necessary to prevent starvation or dehydration, a feeding tube is necessary. If it isn't, it isn't. If someone is in such failing health that even if they don't eat anything they'll die of other causes before starvation sets in, what's the point of a feeding tube?
Rest in peace, JP II. You were a great man.
ping
You're kidding! Really!?!
A weak old man who can’t swim climbs up onto his roof in a flood and starts praying. He prays to god to take the water away so he won’t drown. When the water gets waist high on the ground, a big strong man walks by and says “come down from there. I’ll take you to high ground on my back.” The old mans replies “no thanks, God will save me.” When the water is just up to the gutters, a small motor boat comes by and the man in it says “come down from there and I’ll take you to high ground in my boat.” The man replies “no thank you, God will save me.” When the water is almost to the peak of the roof, a helicopter comes by and a man with a bullhorn calls down “grab the ladder, we’ll take you to high ground.” The mans replies “no thank you, God will save me.” The water goes higher and the man is standing on his tippy toes on the peak of the roof to keep his head above water. Then he loses his footing and drowns. When he gets to heaven, he is angry. He says “God, why did you not save me?! I prayed to you to save me!” God replies “I know, I heard. I sent you a strong man to carry you, then a boat to save you, then a helicopter. After three times I gave up and let you find your own solution.”
If a doctor tells you a feeding tube is what you need to survive, Maybe you shouldn’t refuse it. MAYBE. I don’t claim to be an expert in medicine or religion. I do think of myself as very experienced in conjecture, hearsay and supposition, however.
Somebody (the author) looking for his/her 10 minutes of fame so they write some hogwash and get it. See how much is written about this tomorrow. My bet is zero.
I understand that the article is a bunch of hog wash. Anything to bash religions of all types.
The bogus story is part of a campaign for euthanasia in Italy. A vote on the issue is coming up soon.
The Pope had a feeding tube inserted when-—he couldn’t eat on his own! When a person can eat on his own, a tube is unnecessary. And no, the Pope did not starve to death—unlike Terri Schiavo, who was murdered.
People who are ill, in their last days of of life do not eat. I know both of my parents were ill and both died at home. They both refused food and barely had any liquids. That’s not euthanasia, that’s dying naturally.
Kind of like a condom in reverse?
There will always be people who wish to make a name for themselves by pissing on the legacy of good people.
BS...
Like anorexics, right?
Your reasoning is clumsy.
Geez, I can't imagine losing a desire to live. If I ever do, just kill me.
j/k
Did he normally pray in English or was Polish or Latin his choice?
I may be dense. But if that's the case; where does the euthanasia allegation come from?
my mother literally pulled the tube out. she only put it in to satisfy her kids. she was ready go. what tjhe secularists will never understand is that it is not about life vs death, it’s about LIFE.
One wonders what they would accomplish if they tried doing something constructive for a change.
Um, no.
Is this professor possibly trying to encourage legislation allowing euthansia and thus trying to drum up support by speculating about the Pope?
D’oh! Make that euthanasia. Ought to pay attention to those little red lines under the words in preview!!
If ONLY someone - anyone - would euthanize the entire editorial board at TIME . . . talk about a tired old rag, taking up space and using up trees.
Great picture!!!!!!! Two magnificent creations from God
Great picture!!!!!!! Two magnificent creations from God
Actually the Pope, by choosing NOT to prolong his own life was simply exercising his God-given rights. He knew he was dying, and saw no need to prolong the process by artificial feeding methods. Since HE was making that decision for himself, and someone else wasn't forcing it on him, he didn't violate any Church teachings.
Hello. I have just registered on FR after lurking for a long time. The subject of this thread is something that has been troubling me for months now.
Last Christmas, my mother had her third and most serious stroke. She was 85. Her throat muscles were paralyzed as was her left arm, and she was a little hazy in her thinking, but her heart rate and blood pressure were both good.
She stopped eating, and refused a tube, taking only sips of water. She refused all forms of therapy (rehab,etc.) despite the most urgent pleas of her family and health care professionals. She just told us that her whole body was failing, the thought of eating made her sick and it was time to go.
By April, she had died, peacefully and in her own bed. But my brothers and sisters and I are still torn up from the experience. We keep thinking, she could have gone a couple of more years, but that’s pretty selfish, right?
What do you guys think?
It’s just more Catholic-bashing by a physician who doesn’t even have access to the Pope’s medical chart, let alone direct knowledge of his state of mind. It’s all wild speculation designed to defame the Pope and his church.
The Pope died a natural death. Only this unnatural age would find that somehow mystifying or mysterious.
I think your Mom beat the odds by about 7 or 8 years. She let go of the pole on the merry-go-round when she realized the ride was no longer fun. My Mom did the exact same thing. I’m glad she didn’t continue to suffer and I’m glad I didn’t have to watch her suffer.
First, welcome to FR! It sounds like it was a quality of life issue for her, something that we probably won’t appreciate until we get to be that age.
The Pope MAY have been a Methodist.
The Pope MAY have been an Alien.
Good Grief.
She was a lifelong Catholic. So you can see what a troubling issue this is.
Trust in Him.
Can’t be ... if you’re Bible based.
Perhaps this man and I know for sure that my Grandmother were not afraid to die. My Grandmother left it up to God when her time was up. Death is nothing to fear ... if you know where you stand with God ... .
I just keep going around and around with this.
We are all on our way to death, every day.
If she were, say, 25, with a terminal illness, would it be permissible to stop eating? Or is there a crossover point in your life, where any years you gain will not be worth the efforts and indignities required? Did the Pope realize this as he approached his end?
Your reply of course is the only one, and I thank you.
If someone is dying of something else, that’s gonna kill him within a short amount of time, there is no requirement that he be kept alive by artifical means, if HE chooses not to be. I don’t remember anyone ever saying that the Pope was not able to eat for himself, or to take liquids. Maybe he just didn’t want the tube.
False reporting by Time Magazine.
This is the account of one (supposed) doctor who was not there when John Paul II died and did not view any medical records. It has all been debunked.
I don’t have a link, but would like to post something when I do find it.
Catholic Ping!
**I read not long ago that he died naturally.**
He did. This is a crazy Times Magazine story. Don’t believe the Dinosaur Media.
*8Either they withheld the feeding tube or they didn’t. Now was the cause of death starvation? Hmmm?**
He was getting sick on the feeding tube to they witheld it. He took it again three days later. So why would he take it if he wanted to be euthanized.
This story is a typical lamestream media story. Full of bunk. (My nice word for &))^*^)
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