Italian medical professor: Pope John Paul II was euthanized

Was John Paul II Euthanized?

news.yahoo.com

In a provocative article, an Italian medical professor argues that Pope John Paul II didn't just simply slip away as his weakness and illness overtook him in April 2005. Intensive care specialist Dr. Lina Pavanelli has concluded that the ailing Pope's April 2 death was caused by what the Catholic Church itself would consider euthanasia. She bases this conclusion on her medical expertise and her own observations of the ailing pontiff on television, as well as press reports and a subsequent book by John Paul's personal physician.

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[edit on 9/22/07 by FredT]

The magazine that published the story, but there has been intrigue behing several Papal deaths. It would not be the first time that the church has practiced a do as I say not as I do policy. It contrasts with the whole Terri Schavio mess where several church officals were critical of the decison not to place a feeding tube in her. These comes on the heels of the church officaly critizing the cutting off of food and water to vegatative patients.

news.yahoo.com
(visit the link for the full news article)

IMHO, failure to insert a feeding tube *IS NOT* euthanasia. Furthermore, how can this be assassination? The man was in rotten shape anyways and death was probably inevitable no matter what they did.

Originally posted by uberarcanist
IMHO, failure to insert a feeding tube *IS NOT* euthanasia.

I would agree with you on that BUT, the church recently made a grandiose point of telling everyone that its evil.

reply to post by FredT


The Catholic Church does a lot of stuff which makes absolutely no sense to me. I'm very glad I'm a Protestant.

reply to post by uberarcanist


athiest myself so I hear you.

As Homer Simpson said about the RC Church 'man you guys have more crazy rules than blockbuster video"

Originally posted by uberarcanist
IMHO, failure to insert a feeding tube *IS NOT* euthanasia.

Assisting someone to die is different to allowing someone to die. Firstly to assist someone you require their consent.

Secondarily what about the duty of care and the Hippocratic Oath

I swear by Apollo Physician and Asclepius and Hygieia and Panaceia and all the gods and goddesses, making them my witnesses, that I will fulfill according to my ability and judgment this oath and this covenant:

To hold him who has taught me this art as equal to my parents and to live my life in partnership with him, and if he is in need of money to give him a share of mine, and to regard his offspring as equal to my brothers in male lineage and to teach them this art - if they desire to learn it - without fee and covenant; to give a share of precepts and oral instruction and all the other learning to my sons and to the sons of him who has instructed me and to pupils who have signed the covenant and have taken an oath according to the medical law, but no one else.

I will apply dietetic measures for the benefit of the sick according to my ability and judgment; I will keep them from harm and injustice.

I will neither give a deadly drug to anybody who asked for it, nor will I make a suggestion to this effect. Similarly I will not give to a woman an abortive remedy. In purity and holiness I will guard my life and my art.

I will not use the knife, not even on sufferers from stone, but will withdraw in favor of such men as are engaged in this work.

Whatever houses I may visit, I will come for the benefit of the sick, remaining free of all intentional injustice, of all mischief and in particular of sexual relations with both female and male persons, be they free or slaves.

What I may see or hear in the course of the treatment or even outside of the treatment in regard to the life of men, which on no account one must spread abroad, I will keep to myself, holding such things shameful to be spoken about.

If I fulfill this oath and do not violate it, may it be granted to me to enjoy life and art, being honored with fame among all men for all time to come; if I transgress it and swear falsely, may the opposite of all this be my lot

In my opinion, to insert a mechanical feeding tube into someone who has no hope to recover to a a life without the machine, is cruel and only prolongs suffering of the body before the inevitable which could only cloud the path of advancement for the soul. Especially with an elderly patient.

If you do not expect me to recover beyond vegitative state or to ever recover beyond needing to be strapped to a machine... then pull the plug. I think the Catholic Church's stance on mechanical food and water is dogmatic and fails to account for the additional suffering it creates.

There needs to be a "clear and present bardo" clause.

Catholic insistance on the perpetuation of life and the use of modern medical technology turns what would have been a quick hanging by noose into an excrutiation hanging on the cross.

Sri Oracle

Originally posted by FredT
I would agree with you on that BUT, the church recently made a grandiose point of telling everyone that its evil.

I dealt with the issue when I made out my health directives earlier this year and it varies from area to area Fred. In florda for example they claim catholics are not supposed to withhold feeding tubes while the archbishop here stated it is up to the individual to make that choice when making out their directive.