Not Writiing About Vatican Food and Fluids Directive

September 25, 2007

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.