Catholic? Christians? any religion have questions?

Question

Lets say your family member is in a coma, and doctor says he will be on machine for life or maybe wake up one day in 10 years or maybe never. Think about costs and everything. Would you pull the plug? concerning your religion beliefs? and if you do, would it be considered a sin, (suicide) due to pulling the plug in your Gods eyes? what do you think?

Answer 1

I actually went through something similar to your scenario. My father slipped into a coma due to a major stroke. I was the designated health care proxy, so I had the final say. The doctor's asked me if I wanted a DNR (Do not resusitate), After talking with my mother, we both agreed to do everything possible to save him. My brother and his wife, believed that we were being selfish because we didn't want to let him go, and we didn't know to what extent the damage to his brain would be. (To this day my brother doesn't speak to me).

My father survived although paralyzied. He went through extensive physical therapy and after 2 years passed away.

After going through all of this, I would never judge anyone who decided either way. It is THE most difficult decision anyone could ever make. It has nothing to do with cost (Think of the person you love most in the world. How much would you spend?) I spoke to a priest about this (I'm Catholic) and the Church's view on this is if you pull the plug, you are not causing someone's death.

Also, If a doctor believed that someone MIGHT wake up, they have a responsibilty to keep that person on life support.

Peace to you

Answer 2

The normal situation if the person is requiring a machine to stay alive, the chance of survival is very low.

Catholics believe in the sanctity of life until natural death, now withholding food and water is not un-natural, that is a basic requirement. Being kept alive by a machine making your heart beat, and without the machine you cannot survive, is NOT a requirement, you can "Pull the plug"

Catholics do not believe that a person has to be kept alive after the time of natural death.

Say a person has terminal Cancer and are in dire shape, they should get medical care, and be given every opportunity to live, but if they pass into a coma, they do not have to be put on a respirator to keep them alive.

Hope this helps.

Peace!

Answer 3

Hello,

The position of the Roman Catholic Church is though you cannot commit euthenasia by a fatal overdose of drugs or a quick bullet to the head, you do not have to keep a person or yourself alive by artificial means such as the machines you mention. There is a point that comes when you are not really prolonging life but just delaying death. Just pull the plug and let the person die with dignity. This is not suicide or murder in God's eyes.

Michael Kelly

Answer 4

This is actually quite a complicated question.

As Catholics, we are not allowed to do anything that will directly cause the death of another human being.

We are also not required- personally or as the decision maker- to do anything concerning that is considered burdensome. By burdensome, that means that the treatment does no benefit or even causes discomfort or additional harm.

For example, my father in law in his final days, was unable to eat or drink. He could no longer swallow. Forcing food down his throat or having a feeding tube put in would have been burdensome. He had an IV and a PEG.

Terri Schivo was NOT on life support of any kind. She was starved to death because her husband considered he a burden because he wanted to marry the woman he had an affair with and had knocked up.

At any rate, food and drink are never considered extraordinary care unless the person's body is no longer able to process them.

If there is enough damage to a person's brain that their brain is incapable of making the heart and lungs function on their own...well...you need to consider what is happenong.

At that time, it is best to consult with a GOOD medical ethicist. Before that point, even guessing at what you would do is pure folly, because every single situation is unique.

Answer 5

If the coma is the result of something that is NOT life threatening (such as a degenerative disease) is would be morally wrong to unplug the comatose patient, no matter what.

Using the "cost and everything" as an excuse to unplug the patient is inherently selfish. It is basically saying, you would rather sacrifice the life of a loved one in order to save a few bucks.

For the record, I have not experienced or witnessed an incident of euthanasia. Fortunately, I do not have to in order to see the justice in Catholic teachings on the subject.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches:

2324 Intentional euthanasia, whatever its forms or motives, is murder. It is gravely contrary to the dignity of the human person and to the respect due to the living God, his Creator.

2277 Whatever its motives and means, direct euthanasia consists in putting an end to the lives of handicapped, sick, or dying persons. It is morally unacceptable.

Thus an act or omission which, of itself or by intention, causes death in order to eliminate suffering constitutes a murder gravely contrary to the dignity of the human person and to the respect due to the living God, his Creator. The error of judgment into which one can fall in good faith does not change the nature of this murderous act, which must always be forbidden and excluded.

This is my Church's teachings on the matter, and I accept these teachings. Even if you're not Catholic, you should consider accepting them too.

Answer 6

I would ask God to take that loved one Home, but not pull the plug. God can take the soul when needed. If the person is brain dead, I'd say, OK, they are dead for real, it would not be a sin to disconnect the body from machines. But God would understand, and I believe that He will give His children the wisdom to know what to do in such a situation. JESUS SAVES!!!

Answer 7

End of life decisions are tough. We cannot hasten encounters with death. Even with every known medical advancement possible, it's God's will that will supercede our efforts. And in the process, He will still perform miracles and override predicted medical results if there is work left unfinished by the person affected. Its is truly in God's realm to call this person back home or not. If they die knowing Christ, then the physical death will not separate their souls from Christ. That is a relief! For immediate family, especially the spouse, extending unnecessary treatment will not necessarily extend quality of life if the vitals are not there and are only sustained with artificial equipment. At that point, it is only fair to weight out the financials with the proposed treatment and to come to a place of releasing the care to God. Very delicate decision encountered many many times by providers and hospitalists. Legally, a directive is authorized by the patient that outlines their preferences for end-of-life situations. These are honored and upheld in court regardless of what the immediate family believes. If there is no directive, then the immediate family has a very difficult decision to make, one that needs the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Not sure if I answered your Q with my long-windedness. May God assist you in your search to settle this question!

Answer 8

i am roman catholic. we have no place in playing god despite costs and other considerations. assisted suicide is wrong. you simply don't know if the person in a coma is at peace or will eventually come out of the coma therefore there is no justification in pulling the plug.

Answer 9

As Christians, we believe that human life is a sacred gift from God to be cherished and respected because every human being is created in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26).

In heeding God’s command, "Thou shall not kill" (Exodus 20:13), we recognize that we cannot end of our lives or the lives of others as we please. We must respect and protect the dignity of human from the moment of conception to the moment of natural death.

Extraordinary procedures to prolong the moment of natural death when there is no real hope is not required by the Catholic Church. This includes being kept alive by a machine.

However giving a comatose person food and water is not considered "extraordinary" means. This is why the Catholic Church was against killing Terri Schiavo by starving her to death.

With love in Christ.

Answer 10

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