I never realized tube pulling was such a common practice.
Yes, sadly, it is so commmon, slipped n this culture GRADUALLY, and surrounded with words like compassion, peaceful, etc.
When Terri admitted there was nothing in Florida law that stated feeding/hydration listed as "tubes, or life support".
The last 10 years this phrase has been added to the possibly growing list of "life support".
Another danger is the DNR, (Do not resuscitate)
What if you are in hospital with having this dieerctive, mildly sick, maybe pneumonia, and you are eating dinner and begin to choke?
If you have the DNR order, thinking it for severe situations, yet you will NOT GET ANY HELP.
The old choking on a chicken bone argument, that can apply to HUNDREDS of innocous medical conditions.
All the people who so easily say they will follow your loved one's wishes, can you stand and watch while they "choke on a chicken bone", never realizing that when they write thesse orders, are not told or had information to consider these fine points.
I would suspect that for most of these people who have done it, they are referring to the ones that go through the nose or throat to the stomach, not the ones that have been placed into the abdomen. I also suspect that these other people die from other things before the lack of food and water has kicked in. I also suspect that they offered their loved ones at least water by mouth through ice chips or sponges. If not, then they are feeling the guilt of killing their own loved ones.