Are clarifications on feeding and hydration in PVS needed by Catholic authorities?

Abstract

Ever since the possibility of keeping a person on advanced life support the Catholic Church has been concerned with the rights of the individual to a dignified death and the right to refuse treatment. This right has traditionally and in documents of the Church been extended to the family in the absence of specified wishes of the patient. Again, since the controversies on patients in a persistent vegetative state (PVS) have come to public knowledge, especially with the case of Terry Schiavo, and more recently, in Italy, the case of Eluana Englaro, people have been confused about the issue of what constitutes extraordinary treatment. This article focuses on the history of advanced life support and extraordinary treatment, with special reference to PVS and attempts to conclude that given the information already available decision to withdraw such care, even if in principle it may be considered ordinary, can be pursued within the same teachings and should therefore not pose problems to medical personnel once a proper legal and ethical procedure is followed. Failure to acknowledge such history and facts is indeed admitting a failure of bioethics as a futile subject.