Stopping nutrition and hydration technologies: a conflict between traditional Catholic ethics and church authority.
This article focuses on the troubling effects of the secular values of individual freedom and autonomy and their impact on laws regarding suicide and euthanasia. The author argues that in an increasingly secularized culture, death and dying are losing their meaning and are not thought of within a moral framework. The debate regarding the provision of artificial nutrition and hydration is critically considered in light of the history of Catholic morality as well as within the modern healthcare context, and finally with new insight from the recent statements made by the late pope. Drane argues that the pope's insistence on providing artificial nutrition and hydration despite irreversible persistent vegetative states in unconvincing.
Drane
James F
JF
Department of Philosophy, Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, Edinboro, PA 16444, USA. jdrane@edinboro.edu
D000544:Alzheimer Disease; D020811:Biomedical Technology / Q000941:ethics; D002410:Catholicism; D002977:Clergy; D006381:Helsinki Declaration; D006801:Humans; D008020:Life Support Care / Q000941:ethics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D018447:Medical Futility; D018529:Nutritional Support / Q000941:ethics*; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000941:ethics; D018458:Persistent Vegetative State; D028725:Theology; D026712:Value of Life; D028761:Withholding Treatment / Q000941:ethics*