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[ec2kadm]

Would you want your feeding tube removed if your situation were similar to Terri Schiavo?
Yes, I would want my feeding tube removed. [ 2 ]   [40.00%]
Yes, but only if I was a burden upon my family. [ 0 ]   [0.00%]
No, but I respect other's decision to engage in this practice. [ 0 ]   [0.00%]
No, I don't agree with this practice under any circumstances. [ 3 ]   [60.00%]
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dmarie   Posted on Mar 20 2005, 06:42 AM 
 
A similiar poll was posted on CNN.com and a surprising 89% of people voted Yes, they would want their feeding tube removed. What do you think ? Post your thoughts here.........

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The Lord is my light and my salvation,
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life,
of whom shall I be afraid?
 
 
 
Christina Posted on Mar 20 2005, 03:45 PM 
 
It's totally, completely wrong to kill.

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"Cast yourself into the arms of God and be very sure that
if He wants anything of you, He will fit you for the work and give you the strength. St. Philip Neri."

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PeterUK Posted on Apr 7 2005, 12:11 AM 
 
May we pray for all those involved in this difficult situation. Having just done a lot of research for an essay on the subject. I believe in the sanctity of life but I have not been in the situation, and if I were i hope that my faith would be strong enough to deal with it And may god give me the strength to cope with it. 

[saintswhiz]

While I understand why some decide to have a feeding tube removed, I do not condone it. I recently did a paper on euthanasia, and I have seen the terrible consequences. The patients look like skeletons, plastered over with skin. Euthanasia, which comes from the Greek word for "easy death," can be anything but.

[cajunrick]

While I understand why some decide to have a feeding tube removed, I do not condone it. I recently did a paper on euthanasia, and I have seen the terrible consequences. The patients look like skeletons, plastered over with skin. Euthanasia, which comes from the Greek word for "easy death," can be anything but.

I worked for a while as a hospice chaplain, and I can assure you there are cases where removing a feeding tube is the most humane thing we can do.

At the natural end of life, the body no longer can process food and liquids.  Forced feeding can cause pain because the body is unable to use the nutrients; they pass through virtually indentical to the way they went it.

Removing a feeding tube in such a case allows God's natural process to take place.  A person will lose consciousness and die peacefully.

Please note that I am not talking about those who otherwise would live, but those who are dying and might gain a few extra days or weeks or even months of pain and suffering, such as advanced Alzheimer's patients or those in the final stages of cancer, ALS, etc.  At the end of life, there is a natural decline in appetite as the body's organs begin to shut down.  It is inhumane to force feed someone who is not lucid and cannot express their wish to be kept alive at this time.  It is also expensive and divisive to the family.

Those who are dying should be allowed to die.  It is the Christian thing to do.

There is, of course, a very big difference between the cases I am talking about, and the case of Terry Schiavo, or other cases where there is any quality of life whatsoever, or who otherwise would live for a prolonged period.  I am speaking of those whose quality of life has already ended and who are being forced to suffer the indignity of artificially prolonged life, often contrary to their expressed wishes, to assuage the guilt of the family, or to allow the doctors to continue billing for their care.

After providing spiritual care to some 400 dying patients and their families, and having carefully examined Church teaching on the matter, I do feel that I am qualified to express an opinion on the issue, but please let me stress that there is a significant difference between ending life (euthanasia) and allowing life to end with dignity as God designed it.

[Charles]

The moment of death is determined only by God.  To take that moment into ones hands is denounceable as being wrong.  We should consider the mystery of suffering and its spiritual value to the individual and the family and loved ones of the individual.  Pope John Paul II gave the world the example of a natural death along with all its suffering and pain(in his case).  We should consider the difference between extraordinary means and nutrition & hydration.  If my condition is determined to be terminal and incurable or of persistent vegetative state, without the possibility of sustainable recovery, then I would opt to discontinue extraordinary means only.  That is to say, I would not want to die of thirst or hunger if my body is still capable of digesting food or assimilate water.  IV fluids (hydration) and a feeding tube (nutrition) are the minimum medical means of ensuring we don't torture some one to death.  If the body does not assimilate the food and fluids, then that person's life is truly in God's hands.

[Gail OCDS]

+JMJTJ+

Just passing along a couple of links on the topic:

http://www.usccb.org/prolife/issues/euthanas/index.shtml

http://www.americancatholic.org/Newsletters/CU/ac0897.asp

God bless you +