Ethics, Alzheimer’s, and feeding tubes

By Nancy Valko Editor’s note. This appeared on Nancy’s blog. In 1988 during the Nancy Cruzan case involving a young, non-terminally ill woman in a so-called “persistent vegetative state” whose parents wanted her feeding tube withdrawn so she would die, I was asked if I was going to feed my mother who had Alzheimer’s disease. …

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Feeding Tube Removed Despite Court Order

  By Wesley J. Smith Texas has a medical futility–what I call Futile Care Theory–law permitting doctors to remove wanted life-support that works from a patient based on their views about quality of life. Before that is done, patients/families are supposed to receive due process–such as it is–e.g., a hearing before a bioethics Star Chamber …

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Feeding and breathing tubes inserted into Jahi McMath, family attorney says surgery “a success”

  By Dave Andrusko The lawyer for the family of Jahi McMath, the 13-year-old who has been declared brain dead, said Wednesday that doctors successfully inserted a gastric tube and tracheotomy tube into the teenager at an as yet undisclosed facility. Jahi was transferred from Oakland Children’s Hospital January 5 after a protracted legal battle …

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