Pope May Have Been Euthanized

ArkLaTex & Regional News Service ^ | September 24, 2007

[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.

[Arthur McGowan]

It was on television at the time.

[Twink]

ITA. Completely false statement and it’s obvious she doesn’t know a darn thing about Catholicism.

[Arthur McGowan]

Since members of the Catholic Church (Peter, Paul, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, etc.)wrote and assembled the New Testament, and since the only reason to believe in the Divine Inspiration of Scripture is that the Catholic Church decided which books belong in the Canon of Scripture and are inspired, I don’t see why it’s inconsistent with Scripture to be a Catholic.

[Twink]

Well said. And in less words than I’ve been typing throughout this thread.

Italy has a big issue concerning euthanasia in their legislature/vote coming up. It’s an issue that has torn the country apart, according to relatives there.

[Salvation]

The Catechism of the Catholic Church

Euthanasia

2276 Those whose lives are diminished or weakened deserve special respect. Sick or handicapped persons should be helped to lead lives as normal as possible.

2277 Whatever its motives and means, direct euthanasia consists in putting an end to the lives of handicapped, sick, or dying persons. It is morally unacceptable.

Thus an act or omission which, of itself or by intention, causes death in order to eliminate suffering constitutes a murder gravely contrary to the dignity of the human person and to the respect due to the living God, his Creator. The error of judgment into which one can fall in good faith does not change the nature of this murderous act, which must always be forbidden and excluded.

2278 Discontinuing medical procedures that are burdensome, dangerous, extraordinary, or disproportionate to the expected outcome can be legitimate; it is the refusal of "over-zealous" treatment. Here one does not will to cause death; one's inability to impede it is merely accepted. The decisions should be made by the patient if he is competent and able or, if not, by those legally entitled to act for the patient, whose reasonable will and legitimate interests must always be respected.

2279 Even if death is thought imminent, the ordinary care owed to a sick person cannot be legitimately interrupted. The use of painkillers to alleviate the sufferings of the dying, even at the risk of shortening their days, can be morally in conformity with human dignity if death is not willed as either an end or a means, but only foreseen and tolerated as inevitable Palliative care is a special form of disinterested charity. As such it should be encouraged.

[Salvation]

There must be a duplicate thread somewhere, because I remember posting these two posts!

Dying pope didn't ask for euthanasia - doctor

'Pope didn't seek euthanasia'

(Vatican) Commentary on Artificial Hydration and Nutrition

Vatican says no to euthanasia even in the case of “vegetative states”, there is still a person

World Leaders Gather for First International Anti-Euthanasia Conference

Largest Ever International Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide Symposium - Toronto Nov. 30 (Pro-Life)

Czech Parliament Unlikely to Legalize Euthanasia

University conference to focus on life, death (Abortion, Stem Cell Research, Euthanasia)

Wisconsin Pro-Life Group Wants to Help Patient Targeted by Euthanasia

A Threat to the Disabled ... and to Us All (Euthanasia)

House Backs CHAMP Act Pro-Life Groups Opposed On Abortion, Euthanasia

Pro-Life Group Tells House to Oppose CHAMP Act Over Euthanasia Worries

Louisiana Attorney General Won't Drop Hurricane Katrina Euthanasia Case

Neighbor's Complaints Succeed in Evicting Dignitas from Residence (Swiss Euthanasia Company)

Treatment of Depression Decreases Suicide Study Indicates: Findings Linked to Euthanasia ...

MEPs call for radical rethink on euthanasia

Nurses in Katrina Euthanasia Case Offered Immunity for Grand Jury Testimony

Pope Benedict sees abortion, euthanasia as "attacks on peace"

Spain Government Wants to Legalize Euthanasia Based on Woman's Case

Euthanasia Robs Dying of Opportunities for Reconciliation, Family Connections

Respectable Baby Killing.....legalizing euthanasia for ill and disabled newborns.

Church of England Does Not Support Infant Euthanasia

Church of England Supporting Euthanasia? [Commentary / Analysis]

Church supports baby euthanasia

British Doctors Recommend Euthanasia for Disabled Newborn Babies[UK]

Euthanasia? How Can a Secular Society Claim Anyone is “Better Off Dead”?

Bishop Fabbro on Voting: Abortion and Euthanasia are Priority over War and Death Penalty

Doctor Charged in Katrina Deaths Denies Committing Murder, Euthanasia

Swiss Euthanasia Group Demands Assisted Suicide for the Depressed

Nations Move to Ban Suicide Counseling; Euthanasia Movement Complains

Haleigh Poutre Almost Victim of Euthanasia, Now Making Good Progress

Why the Christian Worldview Matters (Euthanasia)

Belgium Palliative Care Workers Unable to Kill Patients Due to Shortage of Euthanasia Drug

Selling Death: Euthanasia, Assisted Suicide Advocates Market Their Agenda

Pro-Euthanasia Documentary Wins EBU Festival Award

We Need Non-Voluntary Euthanasia, Says British Expert

Neighbors of Switzerland Euthanasia Clinic Tired of Constant Corpse Removal

'Do-it-yourself' euthanasia clinic to open in Britain

Euthanasia Case Hinges on Jurisdiction Questions

Netherlands Plans Expansion of Child Euthanasia Policy

Dutch Set to Expand Euthanasia Guidelines

Active euthanasia in New Orleans: An urban legend in the making?

[Salvation]

Was John Paul II Euthanized? (red herring alert!)

[ChessExpert]

I don’t see that failure to insert a feeding tube is euthanasia. This is typical liberal upside down thinking. Poison is euthanasia. Suffocation by a pillow pressed on the face is euthanasia. Probably by their logic, failure to risk your life to save another is murder. These people lack the language skills and knowledge to reason satisfactorily.

[topher]

It appears the article would call the following Euthanasia:

A person has the choice, because of medical problems, of having both legs amputated, a lung removed, and permanently put on a machine to continue kidney function.

This will cause the person to be in operation for 4 days and the person MAY live another 4 days with this drastic procedure.

This is not euthanasia, but a person deciding to die a natural death.

On the other hand, an atheist decides to take an arsenic pill because some of his/her medical treatments are too painful. By taking the arsenic pill, the person commits what they consider a mercy killing -- a way to end the pain.

It is important to note that in the case of Terri Schiavo, she was denied water and food, and it was actually dehydration that caused death. Terri Schiavo was delibrately killed -- by some accounts -- against her wishes. The only person who acted to murder Terri Schiavo was her husband. Her immediate family (father, mother, brother and sister), other than her husband, were against this.

This is a just another case of the out-of-control liberal press.

[Global2010]

Please take us off the Catholic Ping List.

We would like Daily Mass Ping Only.

No need to discuss lies and defend our faith ....

Mother Theresa now the Pope.

As a medical care provider and also checking my Catichism ....I know truth.

Pinging us to this trash is disruptive.

We KNOW the truth ...why be defensive.

Please remove us from ping list.

[Robert Drobot]

He never could pass-up getting himself in front of a camera, could he. It follows the age old saying, ‘you can take the man out of the theater, but you can’t take the theater out of the man’. That sums up his thirst for attention, or ‘the celebrity pontificate’ as some have labeled his tenure.

[melsec]

“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”

Prior to this he was trying the natural way ofgetting sustenace - eating - how dare he!

Mel

[Mercat]

our mother quit eating. i don’t know whether it was physical illness or depression. her albumin levels got so low that the doctor said she would be dead in a couple of weeks or we could put a feeding tube in her stomach and she might last a few months. she didn’t want the feeding tube but we talked her into it. we put her in an assisted living center. she had been in a retirment village which didn’t have a lot of assistance available. i went over two/three times per day to pour the nutrient into the tube. she pulled it out herself after a few weeks and insisted on moving “back home.” by that time her retirement village had people who would bring her food and check on her. we got her set up with a visiting nurse and eventually with a couple of visiting hospice volunteers. she was on a lot of meds including anti depressents. all total, she lived about another year and from my own selfish point of view, it was a good year and i think she was okay with it too. at the end, the organ which failed was her skin and we had to keep her on a lot of morphine to ease her passage. i have wondered whether the morphine eased her passage too much but probably not. death is messy. that last year is something i feel she gave me but it also caused a rift between me and my brother and his wife who is s nurse. the sister in law wanted to be in charge but didn’t want to do any of the heavy lifting. she even at the end wanted to arrange the funeral. odd.

[incredulous joe]

“According to “TIME” magazine”

Everything that I need to know about the article.

[redgolum]

OK, this is BS.

[trisham]

I’m not Catholic but I know that when it’s time to go ...

**************

For some reason, I always thought you were Catholic.

[trisham]

Thanks for the ping.

[HarleyD]

This was also on Fox News and dispelled by their Vatican representative. It basically hinged on one person observing news footage and making suppositions. I don’t even know why such a thing was reported.

According to Vatican sources and confirmed by photos, Pope Paul refused a feeding tube up until the last three days before his death. At that time, when he was too weak to eat, they gave him a feeding tube.

This is a completely different issue than someone who is healthy and unable to feed themselves. I have watched several people die and towards the end they simply do not wish to eat. That is far different than someone who isn’t physically capable of eating but would do so if given the chance.

As long as there’s chocolate ice cream, I will always want to eat.

[steadfastconservative]

Catholics are told to take any effort to prolong life. This statement isn't true. The Church does not require patients to undergo any medical procedure that might prolong life, especially if those procedures would be unnecessarily burdensome or painful and would not result in any cure of the patient's condition. However, providing food and water to a dying patient is not considered a medical treatment and it is wrong to withdraw or withhold food and water in order to hasten someone's death. That being said, the pope's doctors had the discretion to decide when it was appropriate to insert a feeding tube and if they did so only a few days before his death, they obviously thought that it had not been necessary before then.

[A.A. Cunningham]

You once again have demonstrated that you suffer from cranial rectumitis.