On Sat, 19 Mar 2005 10:13:11 -0500 "jack syme" <drsyme@cablespeed.com>
writes:
> >
> Our society, collectively, whether you agree with it or not, has
> come to the
> conclusion that feeding tubes are artificial, and are medical
> treatments
> that can be refused like any other medical treatments. This was
> part of the
> US Supreme Court decision in the Cruzan case. You may not agree
> with that
> decision, but, since that is the judicial view, you have no right
> to deny
> someone that refusal just because you disagree with it.
>
> No one is saying that you have to agree to having a feeding tube
> removed
> from you if you were in that condition. That is altogether another
> issue.
> There are many other issues frankly. If you would want to continue
> with a
> feeding tube in a PVS, then that is what you would get. That doesnt
> mean
> that you can impose your value on someone else.
>
If I remember correctly, this is the same conclusion arrived at by a
papal commission. Recall that /felo de se/ is considered a mortal sin, so
would not be supported by the Catholic Church. A suicide, unless it can
be shown that he was insane, cannot be buried in consecrated ground.
Hence refusing of withholding medicine, food or drink is not, in their
considered view, suicide.
Dave
Received on Sat Mar 19 16:36:38 2005
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