An Examination of the Revisionist Challenge to the Catholic Tradition on Providing Artificial Nutrition and Hydration to Patients in a Persistent Vegetative State

2011 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 153-164 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Blandford
Keyword(s):  
Vegetative State ◽  
Persistent Vegetative State ◽  
Artificial Nutrition ◽  
Artificial Nutrition And Hydration ◽  
Nutrition And Hydration ◽  
Catholic Tradition

scholarly journals Common, Difficult Questions about Providing Nutrition at End of Life: Bedside Application of Catholic Moral Teaching

2020 ◽  
Vol 87 (2) ◽  
pp. 122-130
Author(s):  
John J. Raphael ◽  
Michael A. Vacca ◽  
Annmarie Hosie ◽  
Natalie Rodden ◽  
Ashley K. Fernandes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ethical Issues ◽  
Vegetative State ◽  
Persistent Vegetative State ◽  
Feeding Tube ◽  
Artificial Nutrition ◽  
Artificial Nutrition And Hydration ◽  
Her Family ◽  
Nutrition And Hydration ◽  
Dying Patient ◽  
Specific Scenario

There is much confusion surrounding how to interpret provision of artificial nutrition and hydration (ANH) at the bedside in complicated clinical circumstances. The specific scenario that prompted these questions was a request by a patient and her family to remove a feeding tube that had become, in the patient’s eyes and opinion, disproportionately burdensome in her particular set of clinical circumstances. This clinically relevant article can be viewed as a bedside interpretation of Catholic bioethical teachings on provision of ANH to the dying patient. Please note that this article does not address specific ethical issues that pertain to persistent vegetative state, which is beyond the scope of this particular discussion.

scholarly journals The Brophy Case: The use of Artificial Hydration and Nutrition

1987 ◽  
Vol 54 (2) ◽  
pp. 63-72 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip Boyle ◽  
Larry King ◽  
Kevin O'Rourke
Keyword(s):  
Vegetative State ◽  
Persistent Vegetative State ◽  
Major Surgery ◽  
Artificial Nutrition ◽  
Artificial Nutrition And Hydration ◽  
Left Posterior ◽  
Life Sustaining Treatment ◽  
Nutrition And Hydration ◽  
Basilar Tip Aneurysm ◽  
The Right

Case Study: Paul Brophy, a 48-year old fireman living in Boston, married to Patricia Brophy for 27 years, suffered a subarachnoid hemorrhage as a result of a ruptured basilar tip aneurysm on March 22, 1983. In order to correct the aneurysm. Brophy underwent major surgery involving a right frontotemporal craniotomy and a clipping of the basilar tip aneurysm. Postoperatively, he never regained consciousness, and has remained in a persistent vegetative state. Subsequent to his surgery of April 6, 1983 and prior to his discharge on June 28, 1983, Brophy received multiple CT scans, which showed a complete infarction (destruction of tissue secondary to lack of blood flow) of his left posterior cerebral artery and infarction of the right temporal lobe of the brain. In January, 1985, Patricia Brophy, with the consent of the five Brophy children, all of whom are adults, petitioned to have all life sustaining treatment removed from her husband, including the discontinuation of all artificial nutrition and hydration. What decision should the court make?

scholarly journals Observations on the Ethical and Social Aspects of Disorders of Consciousness

2010 ◽  
Vol 37 (6) ◽  
pp. 758-768 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric Racine ◽  
Catherine Rodrigue ◽  
James L. Bernat ◽  
Richard Riopelle ◽  
Sam D. Shemie
Keyword(s):  
Life Support ◽  
Functional Neuroimaging ◽  
Vegetative State ◽  
Clinical Care ◽  
Disorders Of Consciousness ◽  
Artificial Nutrition ◽  
Artificial Nutrition And Hydration ◽  
Neuroscience Research ◽  
Nutrition And Hydration ◽  
Unconscious Patients

AbstractThe care of chronically unconscious patients raises vexing medical, ethical, and social questions concerning diagnosis, prognosis, communication with family members, and decision making, including the withdrawal of life support. We provide updates on major controversies surrounding disorders of consciousness. Issues such as withdrawal of artificial nutrition and hydration – which had been considered “settled” by many in the medical, legal and ethical communities – have resurfaced under the pressure of social groups and religious authorities. Some assumptions about the level of awareness and the prognosis of vegetative state and minimal conscious patients are questioned by advances in clinical care because of insights produced by neuroscience research techniques, particularly functional neuroimaging. Both the clinical and neuroscience dimensions of disorders of consciousness raise complex issues such as resource allocation and high levels of diagnostic inaccuracies (at least, for the vegetative state). We conclude by highlighting areas needing further research and collaboration.

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