Can you help with this medical ethics question for a dying relative?

[starke_fred]

Must a feeding tube (that usually causes necrosis of the sinus and/or throat tissue after two weeks) be replaced with a feeding shunt directly into the stomach, or is this extra-ordinary life support? The 93 year old relative with advanced dimentia cannot swallow water or her own siliva and will develope pnemonia quickly if given water orally. A shunt into the stomach for feeding and hydration can extend her life until siliva causes pheumonia or another frequent infection ( 3 in 10 months ) causes kidney or liver failure. She weakens with each incident. Is it time to give her sips of water and juice and let her swallow if she can or asperate until the lungs fill with fluid? Are we ethicly bound to feed and hydrate her by this surgical insertion of a stomach shunt with an external feeding bag until the next infection? She is extremely weak and cannot communicate discomfort/pain.

I need a quick answer. Thank you.

 

[Fr.Vincent_Serpa]

Dear friend,

I checked with a Catholic physician who said that the stomach shunt would be considered extraordinary means. Because the body becomes so fragile at that age, the feeding tube through the nose could be problematic, but this is not always the case. I suggest that you contact the National Catholic Bioethics Center on Monday morning:

(215) 877-2660

FAX
(215) 877-2688

You and your relative are in our prayers.

Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P.