Pope Declares Feeding Tube Removal Immoral

Associated Press ^ | 03/20/04 | The Pope

[phenn]

March 20, 2004, 11:34 AM EST

VATICAN CITY -- Pope John Paul II said Saturday the removal of feeding tubes from people in vegetative states was immoral, and that no judgment on their quality of life could justify such "euthanasia by omission."

John Paul made the comments to participants of a Vatican conference on the ethical dilemmas of dealing with incapacitated patients, entering into a debate that has sparked court battles in the United States and elsewhere.

The pope said even the medical terminology used to describe people in so-called "persistent vegetative states" was degrading to them. He said no matter how sick a person was, "he is and will always be a man, never becoming a 'vegetable' or 'animal.'"

In a vegetative state, patients are awake but not aware of themselves or their environment. The condition is different from a coma, in which the patient is neither awake nor aware. Both, however, are states in which the patient is devoid of consciousness.

If the vegetative state continues for a month, the patient is said to be in a persistent vegetative state; after a year without improvement, the patient is said to be in a permanent vegetative state.

Providing food and water to such patients should be considered natural, ordinary and proportional care -- not artificial medical intervention, the pope told members of the conference, which was organized by the World Federation of Catholic Medical Associations and the Pontifical Academy for Life, a Vatican advisory body.

"As such, it is morally obligatory," to continue such care, he said.

Since no one knows when a patient in a vegetative state might awaken, "the evaluation of the probability, founded on scarce hope of recovery after the vegetative state has lasted for more than a year, cannot ethically justify the abandonment or the interruption of minimal care for the patient, including food and water," he said.

Similarly, he said that someone else's evaluation of the patient's quality of life in such a state couldn't justify letting them die of hunger or thirst.

"If this is knowingly and deliberately carried out, this would result in a true euthanasia by omission," he said.

John Paul has consistently voiced opposition to euthanasia, which the Vatican defines as "an action or omission that by its nature and intention" causes death to end pain. It says euthanasia always is a violation of God's law.

The issue over removing feeding tubes has prompted several court cases and legislation in the United States, Australia and elsewhere.

In a highly publicized case in Tampa, Fla., the husband of a severely brain-damaged woman, Terri Schiavo, has battled her parents for years to have his wife's feeding tube removed so she can die. He says she wouldn't have wanted to be kept alive with it.

The issue has involved the state legislature as well as the governor, who was given the authority to have the feeding tube reinserted after the woman's husband had it removed.

In his comments, John Paul said families of such ill people needed more emotional and economic support, so that they can better care for their loved ones. In addition, he said, society should commit more money to find cures for them.

Copyright © 2004, The Associated Press

[phenn]

~ping~

[pollywog]

YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!! A vote for life.

[Mo1]

PING!!

[FR_addict]

This is great new! I'm glad the Pope finally decided to help the most vulnerable of his flock.

From what has been posted previously, other states do not allow the removal of feeding tubes. Florida needs to pass a law against this inhumane and immoral practice of starving and dehydating people to death.

I hope the pope's words are read from the pulpit on Sunday.

[tessalu]

And I am going to agree with Pope John today.

[codyjacksmom]

Way to go Pope!!!!! Maybe we could bring him to Florida and guilt trip those idiots into passing that kind of law.

[EggsAckley]

Schiavo PING!

[madprof98]

I hope the pope's words are read from the pulpit on Sunday.

Dream on.

[Destro]

I disagree with the Pope. If the natural body can not feed itself, God has designed it to expire naturally. Keeping people alive unaturaly for protracted periods without hope of recovery is torture and a sin. Christianity does not fear natural death nor does it consider natural death a sin. This is not the same as euthenasia where you force the death through an unnatrual method like injecting poison, etc.

"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die..." From The Bible, Old Testament Ecclesiastes iii

[Future Useless Eater]

Terri is a DEVOUT Catholic! Even if Michael Schiavo heard her correctly say "she prefers STARVATION rather than an inconspicuous feeding tube under her clothing", Terri would HONOR the instructions of the POPE, and CHOOSE LIFE.
From "Terri Big Eyes" video available at www.terrisfight.org

Terri starts out apparently asleep. A doctor wakes her to start his tests.

Doctor: Terri. Open your eyes up...

Terri: (Startled at hearing her name. She starts moving her mouth and fluttering her eyes, like a person who is just waking up)

Doctor: Open your eyes, Terri open your eyes

Terri: (slowly at first, Terri struggles to open her eyes, then turns toward the doctor, and opens her eyes a normal amount)

Doctor: There you go, good.

Terri: (then, either to show off(?) or wanting to perform well, she leans further forward toward the doctor, looks straight at him and opens her eyes as WIDE AS SHE CAN. Note the WRINKLES ACROSS HER FOREHEAD caused by her also RAISING HER EYEBROWS as high as possible )

Doctor: [now obviously impressed] GOOD!! GOOD JOB! GOOD JOB YOUNG LADY! Good Job.

[IMRight]

I disagree with the Pope. If the natural body can not feed itself, God has designed it to expire naturally.

I'll be sure to tell my newborn that.

[dogbyte12]

I guess I am going to be the one to start the fight here. I do not believe in giving power of attorney over feeding tubes, but I do believe you should have that power of attorney yourself. If you were attacked, with no id, and vegetative, and they put you on a feeding tube, once you become ID'ed and your living will is examined, stating that you request to not live in such a state, that should be respected.

I don't believe in doing this by proxy, but the pope is being too much of an absolutist. We should have the right in advance to make our own choice in this matter.

[firerosemom]

Has anyone emailed this to the FLA bishops?

[IMRight]

It's perfectly reasonable to put a "no extraordinary measures" clause in a living will. A feeding tube does not qualify as "extraordinary measures". It's "ok" to unplug a machine that is breathing for you, but even people with a tracheotomy get feeding tubes.

[Rome2000]

Providing food and water to such patients should be considered natural, ordinary and proportional care -- not artificial medical intervention,

Pretty simple concept.

Leftists just don't understand.

[madprof98]

It's perfectly reasonable to put a "no extraordinary measures" clause in a living will. A feeding tube does not qualify as "extraordinary measures"

In my experience with living wills, the two issues are treated separately. There's a standard form, with a "no extraordinary measures" check-off and a "no feeding tube" check-off. Of course, the pressure is tremendous to check off both boxes.

[FR_addict]

"I disagree with the Pope. If the natural body can not feed itself, God has designed it to expire naturally. Keeping people alive unaturaly for protracted periods without hope of recovery is torture and a sin."

By your words, Christopher Reeves and Stephen Hawkings should "expire naturally" instead of being kept alive by being fed.

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

In a vegetative state, patients are awake but not aware of themselves or their environment. The condition is different from a coma, in which the patient is neither awake nor aware. Both, however, are states in which the patient is devoid of consciousness.

If someone is awake there is a level of consciousness, however diminished the level of responsiveness may be.

[codyjacksmom]

Sorry, I completely disagree with that. How is giving nutrition and hydration unnatural. You get these on a daily basis...is that torture and sin? I'm sure you don't grow, raise, prepare etc.. everything that your body takes in. That is someone else providing these things for you.

The Bible also tells us to take care of the elderly and the sick. We need to complete the context and not just pick and choose to serve our own agenda.