Question

Mrs. Jansen is a Roman Catholic Christian 58-year-old schoolteacher. Six weeks ago, she suffered a stroke that left her with severe deficits. Her doctor told her family that due to her injury, she will be unable to walk on her own, feed herself, or be independent from full assistance for the remainder of her life. She remains in the hospital and has not communicated with her family in any way since the stroke. She is breathing on her own but will most likely experience unpredictable bouts of respiratory distress for the rest of her life, requiring future mechanical ventilation. She is receiving nutrients through a feeding tube, which was surgically inserted in her stomach.

Her husband wants the doctor to remove the feeding tube and permit the effects of the stroke to take their natural course. He is sure that this is what his wife would want, especially considering the grim diagnosis. He knows this not only from what she has told him in the past but also because of her free and independent character. He believes that she would not want to live like this. The doctor is not comfortable removing the feeding tube because she believes it to be necessary to sustain life.

Questions to consider in the case study:

• What can you find in the teaching of the Catholic Church to help inform the patient’s caregivers so that they can decide on a course of action?
• Do you think the husband's request is reasonable? What do you think about the doctor's response? Can the feeding tube can be removed, and the sanctity of the patient's life still be recognized?
• What course of action should be taken? If you were the husband how would you proceed?

Answer 1

1. Teaching of the Roman Catholic Church: Roman Catholic Church has always taught the absolute and unchanging value of the commandment - you shall not kill. Considers it a grave violation of the law of God, since it is leading to deliberately and morally unacceptable killing of a human being. Patient's caregivers should be informed about the unfortunate incident of Mrs. Jansen suffering a stroke which has left her with severe deficits, requirement of assisted living & full time care.

2. Husband's request : Under the circumstances husband"s request is reasonable as he knows / understands his wife better than anybody else. He is sure that this is what his wife would want, especially considering the grim diagnosis. He knows this not only from what she has told him in the past but also because of her free and independent character. He believes that she would not want to live like this.

Doctor's response is also appropriate. Rightly so, doctor is not comfortable removing the feeding tube because she believes it to be necessary to sustain life.

3. No the feeding tube cannot be removed & sanctity of life cannot be recognized here. Human life is sacred and is a gift from God which is to be respected & protected.

4. Course of action: Follow the Doctor's advice & treatment procedure until discharge from hospital. If I were the husband move her back to home after discharge from hospital. Arrange for a home nurse / care giver to initially take care of all her medical requirement & rehabilitation. As far as possible comfort her & provide all moral / emotional support in this difficult time to her.