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.
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