Assistant Told Me Her Sister Stopped Eating

[dominicansoul]

My Assistants sister has been dying of brain cancer for the last months. She was eating, but suddenly is not anymore. She's in hospice, so there is no feeding tubes installed. Is this right? Is this okay with God, to allow "nature to take its course" and let her sister, who is dying already, not be fed?

[CatherineM]

Food is not considered to be an extraordinary means of life support. There may come a time when it is difficult to eat, especially with some diseases like ALS or Parkinson's Disease. If the person is suffering, and is close to the end, they can be maintained with IV nutrition rather than a feeding tube. If they aren't that close to the end, a feeding tube should be used. It's kind of a hard call to make. Doctor's often say someone has just a little time left, and then are proven wrong. If she is refusing the feeding tube because she doesn't want any more invasive procedures, that is one thing. If she is refusing it to end her life sooner, that is another issue entirely. This is why end of life decisions can become complicated, and is a time when spiritual direction is crutial.