End-of-Life Options: Tube Feeding


Is it ever acceptable to forgo life-sustaining treatment?	Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Yes. "There is a difference between allowing a terminally ill person to die of natural causes and the initiating of action that causes someone’s death. The application or denial of life-support systems must be decided reverently, usually by competent and responsible family members through prayer and the consultation of competent medical authorities. It is not wrong to ask the Lord, if it be his will, to shorten the physical suffering of a person whose afflictions are terminal and irreversible" (Durham 1992: 971). "When dying becomes inevitable, it should be seen as a blessing and a purposeful part of eternal existence. Members should not feel obligated to extend mortal life by means that are unreasonable" (Policy of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints1998: 1).

Is it ever acceptable to forgo artificial nutrition and hydration?
Yes. "Allowing death to occur, on the other hand, may involve the withholding or withdrawing of life-sustaining medical treatment in circumstances where death is the natural outcome. We recognize that there are circumstances where it is more appropriate to allow individuals to die than to artificially keep their bodies alive. Allowing death to occur is permissible when death is the inevitable and natural outcome and the measures required to postpone it would rob the patient of the ability to relate meaningfully to others or to experience satisfaction with the quality of his or her existence. Such measures include artificially assisted nutrition and hydration" ("Preparation for Life-Prolonging Decisions" 1992).

Citations
Abbott, Deborah. "Religious Beliefs and Healthcare Decision: The Latter day Saints Tradition" in Religious Traditions and Healthcare Decisions. Chicago: Park Ridge Center. Durham, W. Cole, Jr. 1992. Encyclopedia of Mormonism. MacMillan Publishing Company. "Preparation for Life-Prolonging Decisions." 1992. Standing High Council [of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints] (January 16). "Policy of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints" 1998 (September).