Investigating Decision to Remove Feeding Tube
Governor Mitt Romney of Massachusetts intends to investigate the decision by the MA Supreme Court to permit the public guardian to remove the feeding tube from a 12-year-old abuse victim named Haleigh Poutre. She is now, apparently, reacting to her environment (not that I believe reactivity should be a requirement to receive food and water).
And let there be no complaints by those who believe cognitively disabled people should be dehydrated, about the "state" imposing its views on family. This was a decision pushed by the state through a public guardian, and approved by a court.
By all means: Investigate. And let us hope that the conclusion is reached that food and water should not be removed from people based solely on "quality" of life considerations in the wake of a catastrophic brain injury.
posted by Wesley J. Smith @ 2:37 PM
2 Comments
2 Comments:
Yes, and let's pray that the panel includes people who believe that the individual is a child of God, as does the Governor. So many in medicine and the Social Sciences seem to reject that proposition, as you have confirmed in your writings, and as Francis Schaeffer wrote about in his 1979 work--Whatever Happened to the Human Race.
After reading you and Schaeffer, I wonder if there are enough medical and social services people who reject the humanist, utilitarian view of life to make a difference regarding withdrawal of hydration and nutrition, and who are available to be appointed to Gov. Romney's panel.
I find the situation very depressing.
Depressing but not hopeless. There are still plenty who believe in the sanctity/equality of human life. We just need to empower them and let them know they are not alone. Thanks for writing.
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