Easter

It is now officially Easter Monday. Another late night at the computer scanning the news. Terri Schiavo is foremost on my mind as I think about her starving and dying of thirst. This week's column will elaborate on my personal feelings about the situation. As a physician I understand that there is a time for death, but as a Catholic Christian I also believe that life is precious. I think that given the advances in medicine make what once might have been heroic measures, like a feeding tube, are now routine. There are cases where people can speak, but still require a feeding tube due to other gastrointestinal disorders that do not allow them to swallow or digest food properly. Without a written directive about end-of-life issues, I feel that it is more appropriate to proceed on the side of life. If a person has a DNR (do not resucitate) order, this indicates that no heroic (i.e respirator, etc.) measures be taken. If the person is breathing on their own and the vital organs are fully functioning, but the protionof the brain that affects communication is damaged, a feeding tube and fluids are not heroic. They are life-sustaining just as we would eat or drink to live. The suffering that Terri Schiavo is being forced to endure is a message to all of us to be prepared. There are people who may or may not have our best interests at heart when decisions are made about our lives. We may think that we know someone's desires, but as is often said, it is better to get it in writing.