But what about withdrawing the
feed if it was started when the person was not able to consent or refuse it?
Kevin - I actually have been thinking about this very issue. I found that both the US Catholic bishops, statement on artificial hydration and nutrition and the position paper of my own small denomination ( and both allow for a decision not to use a feeding tube at times) state that the decision to withdraw the feeding tube is morally equivalent to the decision to not start a feeding tube and can be the correct decision in some instances. I understand the logic, but I just cannot get my heart around this. Perhaps if a confused person pulled out their feeding tube, I could agree with not sending them to the hospital to have a new one inserted. By the way, I am thinking this through for my own interest, and I would not give any forceful advice or opinions to the family of a patient. -- Jody
