heroic measures?

[photosynthesis]

I have an honest question...

I'm pro-life. I believe life comes from God and only God can decide what to do with it.

but the Terri Schiavo case is confusing me. I want to believe what the Church teaches, but I'm having trouble.

so she's been in a persistant vegetative state for the last 15 years. If no one intervened, if it weren't for the feeding tube, she otherwise would have died. However, because of science, she's been kept alive for 15 years on the feeding tube. After 15 years, her health hasn't improved. I don't know for certain how much pain her condition causes her to suffer, but I can sort of see why someone would claim that she should die in peace, since it would end her suffering and allow her illness to progress naturally. If it weren't for us humans, she otherwise would have died right then and there.

So I guess my question is... is it ever OK to withold oxygen/tube feedings/artificial life support in order to allow an illness to progress naturally? It seems to me like keeping her on the feeding tube is a "heroic measure" which prolongs unnecessary suffering.

I'm not going to claim that I'm right. but what does the Church really teach about end-of-life issues and "heroic measures" and the sanctity of life? I want to know.

[Pontifex]

It is a good question, but please keep in mind that a feeding tube is not a heroic measure. It is not extraordinary means in other words. Just because the feeding tube is a man made tool does not mean that it is outside the realm of nature. If we were to follow this logic to its ultimate end, we could see justification to not offer any treatment for any reason. Furthermore, since an ambulance is a man made creation that offers aid to the sick we could see justifying not using it to rush someone to the hospital for treatment.

All life is valuable, regardless of whether or not its quality meets our criteria. Without a complete safeguard on all life we shall become what we despise.

Back to the Arian race and surivial of the fittest. Hile!

God forbid. Have Mercy on us all Jesus!