A terminally ill seven-year-old boy has died after decision not to do life-prolonging surgery. “It is always tragic to see a young boy die. There are times, however, when drawn out and distressing medical procedures can simply prolong the agony of an inevitable death,” says Father Neil Vaney.
“This young lad had an incurable condition. Providing a feeding tube to sustain life by giving food and water when the body is able to maintain its life processes is not seen as exceptional practice – though if that procedure becomes painful or distressful, the situation may have to be reviewed.” said Fr Vaney. “If death is inevitable, there is no moral obligation to fight till the last possible second.”
“God gives life but there are times when it is clear that the gift is being recalled. In this case I believe that the judge has acted wisely and mercifully.”
Last October, the boy had a feeding tube inserted because he could no longer swallow food or medication. On May 4, the tube, which provided almost all of his nutrition and hydration, became dislodged. Surgery was required to reinsert it and doctors said that without it he would die within days or weeks.
At the hearing on May 8, a judge ruled that a decision not to reinsert the tube would not amount to culpable homicide, finding it was in accordance with “good medical practice”. The tube was not re-insertered and the boy died the next day.
Neil Vaney is a theologian and principal of Catholic Discipleship College; Auckland