Would food and water, including a feeding tube, always be considered ordinary care?
Food and water, even when provided by artificial means, always represents a natural means of preserving life, not a medical act . . . (and) should be considered . . . ordinary and proportionate. Pope John Paul II, 3/20/04 . . . we are called to provide basic means of sustenance such as food and water unless they are doing more harm than good (body is not able to assimilate) to the patient, or are useless because the patients death is imminent. (Florida Bishops, 2/28/05) (Evangelium Vitae #65, John Paul II) What does the Church teach in regards to the use / removal of a ventilator / respirator? If a person is said to be brain-dead, can all life support be removed so the body can shut down? 1980 Uniform Determination of Death Act – model by which states could adopt their own definitions of death stated, brain death is defined as the irreversible cessation of all functions of the entire brain, including the brain stem. After death, there is no life to support. Dr. Paul Byrne: A lot of peo
