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Terri Schiavo and the use of artificial nutrition and fluids: Insights from the Catholic tradition on end-of-life care

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 August 2006

JOHN J. PARIS
JOHN J. PARIS
Affiliation:
Theology Department, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts
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Extract

The recent events surrounding the case of Terri Schiavo have highlighted the moral implications of end-of-life care. Among the issues raised by Terri's parents against the withdrawal of her feeding tube was that doing so would be “euthanasia” and, as such, would violate their daughter's Roman Catholic religious beliefs. The emotionally charged rhetoric and the political posturing in this case drowned out both rational discourse and historical memory. Politicians and even a few bishops and cardinals were quick to join the parents in denouncing the removal of Terri Schiavo's feeding tube as “euthanasia” or “murder.” However, the interpretation of the Catholic position on the sanctity of life that led to that moral judgment is not in line with the centuries-long Catholic position on end-of-life care.

Type
Research Article
Information
Palliative & Supportive Care , Volume 4 , Issue 2 , June 2006 , pp. 117 - 120
Copyright
© 2006 Cambridge University Press

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References

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