Medically assisted nutrition and hydration: A contribution to the dialogue

Hastings Center Report

Volumn 34, Issue 6, 2004, Pages 13-16

  Repenshek, Mark ^a   Slosar, John Paul ^a  

^a NONE

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

CLERGY; DEATH; EUTHANASIA; HEALTH CARE PERSONNEL; HEALTH SERVICE; HYDRATION; MEDICAL ETHICS; MORALITY; NUTRITIONAL SUPPORT; PERSISTENT VEGETATIVE STATE; RELIGION; REVIEW; VATICAN CITY STATE;

EID: 12344250499     PISSN: 00930334     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.2307/3528171     Document Type: Review

References (39)

1. The text of this address is from the English translation found on the Vatican website: http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/ speeches/2004/march/documents/hf_jp-ii_spe_20040320_congress-fiamc_en.html.
2. See D. O'Brien, J.P. Slosar, and A.R. Tersigni, "Utilitarian Pessimism, Human Dignity, and the Vegetative State," The National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly 4, no. 3 (2004): 497-512; T.A. Shannon and J.J. Walter, "Artificial Nutrition, Hydration: Assessing Papal Statement," National Catholic Reporter, April 16, 2004, at http://natcath.org/ NCR_Online/archives2/ 2004b/041604/041604i.php; R. Hamel and M. Panicola, "Must We Preserve Life?" America 190 (April 19, 2004): 6-8; G.D. Coleman, "Take and Eat: Morality and Medically Assisted Feeding," America 190 (April 5, 2004); and P.J. Cataldo, "Pope John Paul II on Nutrition and Hydration: A Change of Catholic Teaching?" The National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly 4, no. 3 (2004): 513-36.
3. See D. O'Brien, J.P. Slosar, and A.R. Tersigni, "Utilitarian Pessimism, Human Dignity, and the Vegetative State," The National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly 4, no. 3 (2004): 497-512; T.A. Shannon and J.J. Walter, "Artificial Nutrition, Hydration: Assessing Papal Statement," National Catholic Reporter, April 16, 2004, at http://natcath.org/ NCR_Online/archives2/ 2004b/041604/041604i.php; R. Hamel and M. Panicola, "Must We Preserve Life?" America 190 (April 19, 2004): 6-8; G.D. Coleman, "Take and Eat: Morality and Medically Assisted Feeding," America 190 (April 5, 2004); and P.J. Cataldo, "Pope John Paul II on Nutrition and Hydration: A Change of Catholic Teaching?" The National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly 4, no. 3 (2004): 513-36.
4. See D. O'Brien, J.P. Slosar, and A.R. Tersigni, "Utilitarian Pessimism, Human Dignity, and the Vegetative State," The National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly 4, no. 3 (2004): 497-512; T.A. Shannon and J.J. Walter, "Artificial Nutrition, Hydration: Assessing Papal Statement," National Catholic Reporter, April 16, 2004, at http://natcath.org/ NCR_Online/archives2/ 2004b/041604/041604i.php; R. Hamel and M. Panicola, "Must We Preserve Life?" America 190 (April 19, 2004): 6-8; G.D. Coleman, "Take and Eat: Morality and Medically Assisted Feeding," America 190 (April 5, 2004); and P.J. Cataldo, "Pope John Paul II on Nutrition and Hydration: A Change of Catholic Teaching?" The National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly 4, no. 3 (2004): 513-36.
5. See D. O'Brien, J.P. Slosar, and A.R. Tersigni, "Utilitarian Pessimism, Human Dignity, and the Vegetative State," The National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly 4, no. 3 (2004): 497-512; T.A. Shannon and J.J. Walter, "Artificial Nutrition, Hydration: Assessing Papal Statement," National Catholic Reporter, April 16, 2004, at http://natcath.org/ NCR_Online/archives2/ 2004b/041604/041604i.php; R. Hamel and M. Panicola, "Must We Preserve Life?" America 190 (April 19, 2004): 6-8; G.D. Coleman, "Take and Eat: Morality and Medically Assisted Feeding," America 190 (April 5, 2004); and P.J. Cataldo, "Pope John Paul II on Nutrition and Hydration: A Change of Catholic Teaching?" The National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly 4, no. 3 (2004): 513-36.
6. See D. O'Brien, J.P. Slosar, and A.R. Tersigni, "Utilitarian Pessimism, Human Dignity, and the Vegetative State," The National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly 4, no. 3 (2004): 497-512; T.A. Shannon and J.J. Walter, "Artificial Nutrition, Hydration: Assessing Papal Statement," National Catholic Reporter, April 16, 2004, at http://natcath.org/ NCR_Online/archives2/ 2004b/041604/041604i.php; R. Hamel and M. Panicola, "Must We Preserve Life?" America 190 (April 19, 2004): 6-8; G.D. Coleman, "Take and Eat: Morality and Medically Assisted Feeding," America 190 (April 5, 2004); and P.J. Cataldo, "Pope John Paul II on Nutrition and Hydration: A Change of Catholic Teaching?" The National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly 4, no. 3 (2004): 513-36.
7. Pope John Paul II, "Evangelium Vitae" (March 25, 1995), Origins 24, no. 42 (1995), n. 2.
8. M. Panicola, "Catholic Teaching on Prolonging Life: Setting the Record Straight," Hastings Center Report 31, no. 6 (2001): 18, 21-22; Hamel and Panicola, "Must We Preserve Life?," 7; T.R. Kopfensteiner, "Developing Directive 58: A Look at the History of the Directive on Nutrition and Hydration," Health Progress 81, no. 3 (2000): 21; T.A. Shannon and J.J. Walter, "The PVS Patient and the Foregoing/Withdrawing of Medical Nutrition and Hydration," Theological Studies 49, no. 4 (December 1988): 633-34, 644-45; B.M. Ashley and K. O'Rourke, Health Care Ethics: A Theological Analysis, fourth edition (Washington, D.C.: Georgetown University Press, 1997): 425; and R.A. McCormick, "To Save or Let Die: The Dilemma of Modern Medicine" and "The Moral Right to Privacy," both in How Brave a New World? Dilemmas in Bioethics (Washington, D.C.: Georgetown University Press, 1981), 345-48 and 367-68 respectively.
9. M. Panicola, "Catholic Teaching on Prolonging Life: Setting the Record Straight," Hastings Center Report 31, no. 6 (2001): 18, 21-22; Hamel and Panicola, "Must We Preserve Life?," 7; T.R. Kopfensteiner, "Developing Directive 58: A Look at the History of the Directive on Nutrition and Hydration," Health Progress 81, no. 3 (2000): 21; T.A. Shannon and J.J. Walter, "The PVS Patient and the Foregoing/Withdrawing of Medical Nutrition and Hydration," Theological Studies 49, no. 4 (December 1988): 633-34, 644-45; B.M. Ashley and K. O'Rourke, Health Care Ethics: A Theological Analysis, fourth edition (Washington, D.C.: Georgetown University Press, 1997): 425; and R.A. McCormick, "To Save or Let Die: The Dilemma of Modern Medicine" and "The Moral Right to Privacy," both in How Brave a New World? Dilemmas in Bioethics (Washington, D.C.: Georgetown University Press, 1981), 345-48 and 367-68 respectively.
10. M. Panicola, "Catholic Teaching on Prolonging Life: Setting the Record Straight," Hastings Center Report 31, no. 6 (2001): 18, 21-22; Hamel and Panicola, "Must We Preserve Life?," 7; T.R. Kopfensteiner, "Developing Directive 58: A Look at the History of the Directive on Nutrition and Hydration," Health Progress 81, no. 3 (2000): 21; T.A. Shannon and J.J. Walter, "The PVS Patient and the Foregoing/Withdrawing of Medical Nutrition and Hydration," Theological Studies 49, no. 4 (December 1988): 633-34, 644-45; B.M. Ashley and K. O'Rourke, Health Care Ethics: A Theological Analysis, fourth edition (Washington, D.C.: Georgetown University Press, 1997): 425; and R.A. McCormick, "To Save or Let Die: The Dilemma of Modern Medicine" and "The Moral Right to Privacy," both in How Brave a New World? Dilemmas in Bioethics (Washington, D.C.: Georgetown University Press, 1981), 345-48 and 367-68 respectively.
11. M. Panicola, "Catholic Teaching on Prolonging Life: Setting the Record Straight," Hastings Center Report 31, no. 6 (2001): 18, 21-22; Hamel and Panicola, "Must We Preserve Life?," 7; T.R. Kopfensteiner, "Developing Directive 58: A Look at the History of the Directive on Nutrition and Hydration," Health Progress 81, no. 3 (2000): 21; T.A. Shannon and J.J. Walter, "The PVS Patient and the Foregoing/Withdrawing of Medical Nutrition and Hydration," Theological Studies 49, no. 4 (December 1988): 633-34, 644-45; B.M. Ashley and K. O'Rourke, Health Care Ethics: A Theological Analysis, fourth edition (Washington, D.C.: Georgetown University Press, 1997): 425; and R.A. McCormick, "To Save or Let Die: The Dilemma of Modern Medicine" and "The Moral Right to Privacy," both in How Brave a New World? Dilemmas in Bioethics (Washington, D.C.: Georgetown University Press, 1981), 345-48 and 367-68 respectively.
12. M. Panicola, "Catholic Teaching on Prolonging Life: Setting the Record Straight," Hastings Center Report 31, no. 6 (2001): 18, 21-22; Hamel and Panicola, "Must We Preserve Life?," 7; T.R. Kopfensteiner, "Developing Directive 58: A Look at the History of the Directive on Nutrition and Hydration," Health Progress 81, no. 3 (2000): 21; T.A. Shannon and J.J. Walter, "The PVS Patient and the Foregoing/Withdrawing of Medical Nutrition and Hydration," Theological Studies 49, no. 4 (December 1988): 633-34, 644-45; B.M. Ashley and K. O'Rourke, Health Care Ethics: A Theological Analysis, fourth edition (Washington, D.C.: Georgetown University Press, 1997): 425; and R.A. McCormick, "To Save or Let Die: The Dilemma of Modern Medicine" and "The Moral Right to Privacy," both in How Brave a New World? Dilemmas in Bioethics (Washington, D.C.: Georgetown University Press, 1981), 345-48 and 367-68 respectively.
13. M. Panicola, "Catholic Teaching on Prolonging Life: Setting the Record Straight," Hastings Center Report 31, no. 6 (2001): 18, 21-22; Hamel and Panicola, "Must We Preserve Life?," 7; T.R. Kopfensteiner, "Developing Directive 58: A Look at the History of the Directive on Nutrition and Hydration," Health Progress 81, no. 3 (2000): 21; T.A. Shannon and J.J. Walter, "The PVS Patient and the Foregoing/Withdrawing of Medical Nutrition and Hydration," Theological Studies 49, no. 4 (December 1988): 633-34, 644-45; B.M. Ashley and K. O'Rourke, Health Care Ethics: A Theological Analysis, fourth edition (Washington, D.C.: Georgetown University Press, 1997): 425; and R.A. McCormick, "To Save or Let Die: The Dilemma of Modern Medicine" and "The Moral Right to Privacy," both in How Brave a New World? Dilemmas in Bioethics (Washington, D.C.: Georgetown University Press, 1981), 345-48 and 367-68 respectively.
14. Pope Pius XII, "The Prolongation of Life," (November 24, 1957), Pope Speaks 4, no. 4 (1958): 395-96.
15. Pope John Paul II, "Evangelium Vitae," Introduction, Section 2.
16. T.A. Shannon and J.J. Walter, "implications of the Papal Allocution on Feeding Tubes," Hastings Center Report 34, no. 4 (2004): 18-20.
17. P. Knauer, "The Hermeneutic Function of the Principle of Double Effect," in Readings in Moral Theology: Moral Norms and the Catholic Tradition, ed. C.E. Curran and R.A. McCormick (New York: Paulist Press, 1979): 1-39; R.A. McCormick, "Ambiguity in Moral Choke," in Doing Evil to Achieve Good: Moral Choice in Conflict Situations, ed. R.A. McCormick and P. Ramsey (Chicago, Ill.: Loyola University Press, 1978) 7-53; L. Janssens, "Ontic Evil and Moral Evil," Louvain Studies 4 (1972): 115-56; T. O'Connell, Principles for a Catholic Morality (San Francisco, Calif.: HarperSanFrancisco, 1990).
18. P. Knauer, "The Hermeneutic Function of the Principle of Double Effect," in Readings in Moral Theology: Moral Norms and the Catholic Tradition, ed. C.E. Curran and R.A. McCormick (New York: Paulist Press, 1979): 1-39; R.A. McCormick, "Ambiguity in Moral Choke," in Doing Evil to Achieve Good: Moral Choice in Conflict Situations, ed. R.A. McCormick and P. Ramsey (Chicago, Ill.: Loyola University Press, 1978) 7-53; L. Janssens, "Ontic Evil and Moral Evil," Louvain Studies 4 (1972): 115-56; T. O'Connell, Principles for a Catholic Morality (San Francisco, Calif.: HarperSanFrancisco, 1990).
19. P. Knauer, "The Hermeneutic Function of the Principle of Double Effect," in Readings in Moral Theology: Moral Norms and the Catholic Tradition, ed. C.E. Curran and R.A. McCormick (New York: Paulist Press, 1979): 1-39; R.A. McCormick, "Ambiguity in Moral Choke," in Doing Evil to Achieve Good: Moral Choice in Conflict Situations, ed. R.A. McCormick and P. Ramsey (Chicago, Ill.: Loyola University Press, 1978) 7-53; L. Janssens, "Ontic Evil and Moral Evil," Louvain Studies 4 (1972): 115-56; T. O'Connell, Principles for a Catholic Morality (San Francisco, Calif.: HarperSanFrancisco, 1990).
20. P. Knauer, "The Hermeneutic Function of the Principle of Double Effect," in Readings in Moral Theology: Moral Norms and the Catholic Tradition, ed. C.E. Curran and R.A. McCormick (New York: Paulist Press, 1979): 1-39; R.A. McCormick, "Ambiguity in Moral Choke," in Doing Evil to Achieve Good: Moral Choice in Conflict Situations, ed. R.A. McCormick and P. Ramsey (Chicago, Ill.: Loyola University Press, 1978) 7-53; L. Janssens, "Ontic Evil and Moral Evil," Louvain Studies 4 (1972): 115-56; T. O'Connell, Principles for a Catholic Morality (San Francisco, Calif.: HarperSanFrancisco, 1990).
21. United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services, fourth edition (Washington D.C.: United States Catholic Conference, 2001), nos. 56 and 57.
22. Catechism of the Catholic Church (Washington, D.C.: United States Catholic Conference, 1994), no. 2278.
23. Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, "Declaration on Euthanasia," section 4, found at: http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/ congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con__cfaith_doc_19800505_euthanasia_en.html.
24. Pope John Paul II, "Evangelium Vitae," no. 65.
25. Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, "Declaration on Euthanasia," section 4.
26. F. de Vitoria, On Temperance in Reflection on Homicide and Commentary on Summa Theologiae II-II q. 64 (Thomas Aquinas), trans. John P. Doyle (Milwaukee, Wis.: Marquette University Press, 1997).
27. Panicola, "Catholic Teaching on Prolonging Life," 15-17.
28. D.A. Cronin, "Conserving Human Life: Part I," in Conserving Human Life, ed. R.E. Smith (Braintree, Mass.: The Pope John Center, 1989).
29. Pope Pius XII, "Address to an International Congress of Anesthesiologists," subheading, "Basic Principles," found at: http://lifeisssues.net/writers/doc/doc_31resuscitation.html.
30. For examples of the extreme views concerning obligations toward PVS patients, see W.E. May et al., "Feeding and Hydrating the Permanently Unconscious and Other Vulnerable Persons," in Quality of Life: The New Medical Dilemma, ed. J.J. Walter and T.A. Shannon (New York: Paulist Press, 1990), 195-202; and P. Singer, Rethinking Life and Death: The Collapse of Our Traditional Ethics (New York: St. Martin's Press, 1994), 70-75. An extensive medical literature addresses the probability of recovering consciousness; for a good introduction, see Multi-Society Task Force on PVS, "Medical Aspects of the Persistent Vegetative State," NEJM 330 (1994): 1499-1508, 1572-1579.
31. For examples of the extreme views concerning obligations toward PVS patients, see W.E. May et al., "Feeding and Hydrating the Permanently Unconscious and Other Vulnerable Persons," in Quality of Life: The New Medical Dilemma, ed. J.J. Walter and T.A. Shannon (New York: Paulist Press, 1990), 195-202; and P. Singer, Rethinking Life and Death: The Collapse of Our Traditional Ethics (New York: St. Martin's Press, 1994), 70-75. An extensive medical literature addresses the probability of recovering consciousness; for a good introduction, see Multi-Society Task Force on PVS, "Medical Aspects of the Persistent Vegetative State," NEJM 330 (1994): 1499-1508, 1572-1579.
32. For examples of the extreme views concerning obligations toward PVS patients, see W.E. May et al., "Feeding and Hydrating the Permanently Unconscious and Other Vulnerable Persons," in Quality of Life: The New Medical Dilemma, ed. J.J. Walter and T.A. Shannon (New York: Paulist Press, 1990), 195-202; and P. Singer, Rethinking Life and Death: The Collapse of Our Traditional Ethics (New York: St. Martin's Press, 1994), 70-75. An extensive medical literature addresses the probability of recovering consciousness; for a good introduction, see Multi-Society Task Force on PVS, "Medical Aspects of the Persistent Vegetative State," NEJM 330 (1994): 1499-1508, 1572-1579.
33. Pope John Paul II, "Life-Sustaining Treatment and Vegetative State: Scientific Advances and Ethical Dilemmas," no 3.
34. Ibid., no 4.
35. Ibid., no 5.
36. Ibid., no 4.
37. Shannon and Walters, "Implications of the Papal Allocution on Feeding Tubes," 18.
38. Regarding our understanding of what it means to say that someone has a right to something, see O'Brien, Slosar, and Tersigni, "Utilitarian Pessimism, Human Dignity, and the Vegetative State," 502-508.
39. Pope John Paul II, "Life-Sustaining Treatment and Vegetative State: Scientific Advances and Ethical Dilemmas," no 4.