[supercat]

No one should be allowed to remove a patient's feeding tube, period. Like I said, I am not referring to heart/lung machines, ventilators, or anything else that does the work that an organ should be doing.

I wouldn't go that far. If someone's feeding tube becomes clogged or infected, it would be entirely proper to remove it (and replace it). And if someone starts eating well enough without a tube as to render it unnecessary, I'd see nothing wrong with removing it so as to avoid any possibility of future infection.

[TheSpottedOwl]

Oh, you are absolutely correct. My mom's was initially capped off, then removed entirely. Luckily, she didn't suffer any infections while the tube was in place. How about permanently removed to deliberately bring about death due to starvation and dehydration?

I'll remember that for future arguments :)