She writes:<\/p>\n
Hi, Mark\u2013I didn\u2019t know who to ask about this, but I think you will either have a good answer or will be able to direct me to someone who will have a good answer.\u00a0 It is this: \u00a0 When one creates one\u2019s Will, he is asked if, at the extremities of life, that is, when one is facing death fairly soon, one wants hydration and food or not.\u00a0 I understand that the Church\u2019s teaching is \u00a0that one should be given water and nourishment as long as the body absorbs them.\u00a0 My question is, Why is tube feeding at the end of life not considered an artificial prolonging of life?\u00a0 I have never heard a satisfying explanation of this, and I want very much to hear one.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
I\u2019m not really clear on the niceties of moral theology here.\u00a0 I *suspect<\/strong>* that one can be intubated if one wants but that the Church does not demand that doctor\u2019s do this against the patient\u2019s will.\u00a0 The main thing, I think is that food and water be made available in whatever form the patient can receive if they choose.\u00a0 If they just don\u2019t want the fuss of tubes and don\u2019t want food or water delivered traditional means than they need not be forced.\u00a0 Typically an IV will suffice for water needs.\u00a0 Its food that the patient can take or leave however they like.\u00a0 We simply can\u2019t *deny<\/strong>* them that if they want it, but we can\u2019t force it on them if they don\u2019t.<\/p>\n
But that\u2019s just my best guess.\u00a0 Talk to a real ethicist.\u00a0 If I\u2019m wrong, listen to them, not me.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
She writes: Hi, Mark\u2013I didn\u2019t know who to ask about this, but I think you will either have a good answer or will be able to direct me to someone who will have a good answer.\u00a0 It is this: \u00a0 When one creates one\u2019s Will, he is asked if, at the extremities of life, that […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":92,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[8],"class_list":["post-97860","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-mailbag"],"yoast_head":"\n
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