Questions Regarding Artificial Nutrition
and Hydration for Patients in PVS
by Patricia Pitkus Bainbridge, M.A.

After the tragic death of Terri Schindler Schiavo on March 31, 2005-after suffering 13 days without nutrition or hydration-many in the Church remained confused by inaccurate mainstream media reports about artificial nutrition and hydration (ANH) for patients in persistent "vegetative" states (PVS). In addition, a few misguided moral theologians and others issued statements that only served to further confuse the faithful as well as the general public.

Brief History - There is no way to know how many patients in PVS have been denied food and water thus causing their demise. We are made aware of such cases only when there is disagreement and one or more family members or a medical facility challenges a particular decision.

The most publicized cases of non-dying patients being denied nutrition and hydration include, but are not limited to, Paul Brophy (1986) Nancy Cruzan (1990), Christine Busalacchi (1991) and Terri Schiavo (2005).

Sadly, each of these individuals (who were not dying) were slowly dehydrated to death because someone had decided they were no longer deserving of the most basic care-food and water.

By the time the battle for Terri Schiavo's life came to light, many people of good will were confused. Those of bad will were either misguided or unwilling to face the facts.

It should have been settled - On October 2, 1998 Pope John Paul II remarked, ". . . a great teaching effort is needed to clarify the substantive moral difference between discontinuing medical procedures that may be burdensome, dangerous or disproportionate to the expected outcome, and taking away the ordinary means of preserving life such as feeding."

He clarified this difference in March 2004, when he said, "I should like particularly to underline how the administration of water and food, even when provided by artificial means, always represents a natural means of preserving life, not a medical act. Its use, furthermore, should be considered, in principle, ordinary and proportionate, and as such morally obligatory, insofar as and until it is seen to have attained its proper finality, which in the present case consists in providing nourishment to the patient and alleviation of his suffering."

Unbelievably, the March 24, 2004 issue of the National Catholic Reporter included a story about "U. S. Catholic health care ethicists" who "forcefully" disagree with a "Vatican official's opinion that artificial hydration and nutrition for patients in a 'persistent vegetative state' is 'simply care,' and not medical intervention."

Then, in 2005, Bishop Elio Sgreccia, president of the Academy for Life and the Vatican's lead spokesman on bioethical issues said, "To prevent someone access to food and water, represents a way of killing that person . . . we regard as illicit the decision to remove the gastric feeding tube from Mrs. Terri Schiavo . . . [it would be] a pitiless way to kill."

John Paul II's statements and those by other Vatican officials should have settled the issue, but they did not. The rebellion continued.

LIFE MATTERS is published monthly by the Respect Life Office of the Diocese of Rockford. It is sent to all priests, seminarians, religious sisters prayer team members, and parish respect life coordinators. Individual subscriptions may be obtained for a donation of $15.00 per year. This publication may be copied so long as it is done in full. It may be quoted so long as proper citation is provided with the quotation. copyright 2007 Respect Life Office-Diocese of Rockford