Expert: Sal - 3/28/2005

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Hello my name is Brenda I am a devout cradle Catholic. Last year our teenage daughter Brenda took sleeping pills when my husband found her and called 911 she was rushed to the ER they were able to recussitate her however she sufferred severe brain damage she was conscious however she could not speak very well she could still follow simple directions but she was profondly retarted. she would need a feeding tube like Mrs. Shiavo and she could not move much on her own except for involentary spasms from side to side which were frequent. my husband asked her if she wanted to live she shook her head and whimpered that she did not want to be connected to a battery of machines for the rest of her life. we asked the doctors what her prognosis was and it was grim 6 weeks later we pulled the plug and had her feed lines romoved she went home to God. Why would anyone want to prolong this kind of misery and suffering? people in this state should be allowed to go to God did WE SIN by allowing our loves ones to suffer like animals...

         
         Sincerely,



         Brenda N
Answer -
Dear Brenda:

I am sorry to hear about your terrible situation.

The Catholic Church teaches that every person has a right to food & water. Therefore, a feeding tube should not be removed. I do not judge you. Only God knows all the facts and motivations behide your decision. God takes into account everything including what was in your heart. Knowing your heart is something only God can do.

God Bless You,
Sal

Thank you for your answer dose that mean that even if a person refuses a feeding tube as in my daughters case that she must take one?
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Dear Brenda:

I believe that she would have to be given the feeding tube even if she didn't want one. Her wish not to have one would certainly relieve you of any responsibility. However, she would be commiting suicide by refusing the feeding tube and suicide is morally wrong. So her decision to commit suicide cannot be supported. The hospital staff would not be under any obligation to honor her request to not be fed. That's the best I can do with this tough situation. Perhaps a priest or someone who is well versed in moral theology would be of better help to you. May I suggest Edward Bode & Kevin Crowell fellow experts?

Thanks for the question.

God Be With You,
Sa



Sir you said earlier that the Catholic church states that everyone has a right to food and water. Well it would seem to me not only dose it state that everyone has a right to food and water IT DEMANDS IT according to you even if a person refuses it the church demands they be given it IS THAT RIGHT?!? so in other words the person must be forced to live in mysery and pain just because some pathetic machine can keep them alive. So even those who don't want to must live because the church says so  
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Dear Brenda:

The Catholic Church "demands" that people live their lives in submission to God's will. Many times that is not at all how we would like our lives to be. It is a real test of faith to submit to our situation in life without violating God's laws. The Catholic Church is the gaurdian of God's authentic laws. If she says that in order to be right with God we must not aid a person in doing what is morally wrong then our problem is not with the Church's demands, but with God's demands. He alone knows all things and can render a just judgment. I do not judge you. However, one must certainly be careful when rejecting what the Catholic Church says since God speaks to His people through the church that He founded.

An expert in moral theology may better meet your needs or perhaps a good priest could help you to obtain the peace of mind that you are seeking.

God Bless You,
Sal


Sir I donot understand the part about aiding someone in dying as being morally wrong if this aid consists of them being  connected to machines which are keeping them alive. I would also dispute as to weither or not refusing to use modern technology in order to sustain life is morally wrong. Because using modern contraptions to keep a person alive is not a natural thing. since machines are man made So if you are correct in saying that it is morally wrong to use moderm medical intervention to save lives then simply because we happen to live in a time when the machines exist we must use them to prolong misery and suffering. Because according to you God says so. So simply by blind chance a person born into the 21st century even if they don't want to be must be hooked up to machines where if one was born 100 years ago a time  when there were no such devices they could simply die in peace. In which case technology becomes our enemy. Which is a most horrific thought. Also you spoke of the so called "Right To Life" that everyone has a right to food and water. according to you the church in fact demands that water and nouishment be taken. woulden't it be more honest to state that the church demands food and water be given regardless of what the patients whishes be. Insted of the church masquerading uder the more innocent sounding "right to life" mantra. Vs the fanitical even zealous DEMAND by the Roman Catholic church that paitients be force fed in order to satisfy the desires of God.  

Answer
Dear Brenda:

If the machine is a respirator then the person may be morally removed from it. If a person has cancer that person may morally refuse the treatment of a machine that may prolong life, but cannot cure the disease. The Pope has made God's will known when he wrote, "The administration of water and food, even when provided by artificial means, always represents a natural means of preserving life." So you cannot legitamately equate the administration of food and water with other machines such as a respirator. This also makes your statement about when one is born invalid. Firstly, a belief in God should lead one to no longer believe in blind chance as to when one is born. Secondly, when there is no means to feed a person as in the distant past there can be no immorality associated with it.

Again, the Catholic Church doesn't say food and water must be provide, it is God. God does not allow a person to commit suicide and call it their right. Do you believe that a person has a "right" to commit suicide?

Such situations as your daughter's and Terry Schiavo certainly brings us face to face with the great mystery of life & death. In all the many variety of such situations, as God's people we must always keep in mind that we must, in order to be faithful to God, make all presumptions in favor of life. It is not required that we understand or approve of what God has revealed through His Church. We must accept what He reveals.

I can not give you the peace of mind that you so desparately desire. I beg you to seek the help of a priest.

God Be With You,
Sal