I have been asked whether I will comment on the Vatican’s directive regarding the application of tube-supplied food and fluids to those with a diagnosis of persistent vegetative state. I will not. That is a sectarian matter about which I am not qualified to comment.
That being noted, I believe it is wrong to deprive someone of food and fluids because they have a profound cognitive impairment. If people want to be dehydrated in such circumstances, it should be up to them to make that very clear in a written advance directive. Otherwise, the presumption should be for continued life, unless the provision of F and F is medically unwarranted, such as when the person is actively dying and the body is shutting down.
On a related note, I see that Michael Schiavo’s little political PAC has failed and he is shutting it down. Why the man ever thought he could be an attractive leader is beyond me.
(Photo by WJS)
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