MHE

According to opponents, the fact that Eluana could not recover from PVS (disease) was not a reason to withdraw life support to the person, who was not dead. Cure disease ≠ take care of a person (Anzani, 2011). It is moral to interrupt obstinate treatment “The physician's moral obligation is to preserve health and life, not to prolong agony. Whoever refuses therapeutic obstinacy does not facilitate or hasten the death of the person, but simply accepts the limits of human nature.” It is immoral to abandon a person “If specific treatments are interrupted, still it is due to prosecute ordinary treatments and palliative or symptomatic treatments: artificial feeding (both enteral with nasogastric tube, and parenteral), if tolerated; hygienic care; cleansing of wounds and sores; analgesic therapy; sedative therapy; solidarity; attention; respect

When it is impossible to heal, it is still possible (and due) to care, and accompany the patient to natural death, without suffering. «Il medico deve palliare, ove il guarir non ha luogo» (Prof. Giuseppe Del Chiappa, 1852, Pavia) Palermo, 5.4.2001, Palliative Care Congress Charter

Rights of the terminally ill patient

 1. Considered person until death  2. Be informed, if (s)he wishes, on health conditions  3. Receive true information  4. Participate to decisions regarding his health and dignity  5. Receive treatments against pain and suffering  6. Receive continuous care in the preferred setting  7. Not receive treatments prolonging the await of death  8. Express emotions  9. Receive psychological or religious support, according to individual beliefs

  1. Have his/her beloved nearby
  2. Not to die alone
  3. To die in peace and dignity

“The interruption of burdensome, dangerous, extraordinary or disproportionate medical procedures with respect to the expected results can be legitimate. In this case, there is a renouncement to persistent therapy. We do not want to procure death: we accept that we cannot prevent it. Decisions must be made by the patient, if he has the competence and ability, or otherwise, by those who legally have the right, always respecting the patient's reasonable will and legitimate interests” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 11.10.1992) “The doctor, even taking into account the patient's wishes where expressed, must refrain from obstinacy in diagnostic and therapeutic treatments from which a benefit for the patient's health and / or an improvement in the quality of life cannot be reasonably expected” (Italian code of medical ethics, June 15 2009, art. 16) “In the imminence of an inevitable death despite the means used, it is legitimate in conscience to make the decision to give up treatments that would only provide a precarious and painful prolongation of life, without however interruptingE