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Q&A on Terri Schiavo and Other Related End-of-Life Issues
Q: Thank you for your sincere concern, and brutally frank appraisal of the utter contempt and disdain modern society shows for God's precious gift of life. First Terri Schiavo, next it will be the elderly who are exhibitng senility or Alzheimer's symptoms?
A: What you are describing is what has long been called the "slippery slope" of medical ethics. Giving a little ground here and there begins a landslide of abuse. As Scripture talks about the growing nature of sin (James 1:14-15) from thought into action, so also do we see sinful actions begetting more alarming sinful actions. It is a slippery slope. ... Click here for complete answer
Q: What is the church's position on Living Wills? If I am ever injured, sick, or hurt without any hope of recovery, I don't want to be kept alive by artificial means. Is a statement like this within the scope of Lutheran doctrine? Is it OK to create such a will?.
A: Living Wills were originally created by the "Society for the Right to Die" a number of years ago and generally have a strong predisposition toward death rather than toward life. While "Living Wills" have been around for a while and were distributed generously at one time, most medical professionals have been critical of them for being so vague and general in their instructions. States are now promoting medical directive statements which designate a health care agent or surrogate ... Click here for complete answer
Q: With the Schiavo case bringing attention to end of life health care directives, a close relative (WELS) decided to get in writing what was wished for her end of life care. I was named a health care agent because she trusts me, as the document states, to "implement his/her health care wishes even if you disagree with those decisions." Well, in looking over the choices, I see that the choice regarding tube feeding that says, "Yes, my Health Care Agent has authority to have a feeding tube and IV hydration withheld or withdrawn from me subject to any limits I have set forth in this document," was checked, with no limits indicated. I could not in good conscience, based on what I've read on the WELS website and elsewhere, do as she directed.
A: Your predicament is not uncommon. Many people have politely agreed to serve as health care agents only to later discover that they seriously disagree with some of the wishes presented in the document. You took the appropriate action in asking ... Click here for complete answer
Q: I must admit that I was absolutely AMAZED that a physician who identified himself as both "a lifelong WELS member" and an "elder in my local congregation" could write in saying he didn't believe it was sinful to remove the feeding tube that provided food and fluids to Terri Schiavo--not heroics--but simple nourishment, to sustain her life. Suddenly I no longer feel safe myself, knowing that if I ever ended up in a similar state, even a WELS doctor might consider my life worthy of death (nothing short of murder). How can he give credence to the false language of "vegetative" to describe a human being created in the likeness of his/her Creator?!
A: The dialog that is possible through a Q & A forum such as this is valuable for providing a candid look at broad spectrum of issues. In the process erroneous ideas may arise now and then. Such is the nature of working with sinful people. None of us is perfect. It is troubling to be reminded that there is not ... Click here for complete answer
Q: The Christian community looks for shortcut ways to solve the social ills of our society. While we desperately needs laws to protect the disabled, the dying, and the unborn, we more greatly need changed hearts that makes harming others instinctively offensive. We need hearts that beat to the mantra of "thy will be done" in its obedience to God. If I might restate what I think you are saying, it sounds as though your point is that it is more important to change hearts than to change laws.
A: It would be an error to focus on changed hearts but to then neglect the Christian living that should follow. It is not ... Click here for complete answerQ: Who murdered Terri Schiavo? Was it her husband? Was it the court systems? Was it the guards and security who were merely "following orders"? Was it the Governor of the State of Florida or the President of the United States, ... or does the responsibility go to every citizen of the U.S.A., as ours is a government "of the people, by the people, for the people"? Should the country as a whole repent?
A: The case of Terri Schiavo is full of heartache and disappointment. There are obviously sins of commission on behalf of all who acted to end Terri's life. If Terri truly wished ... Click here for complete answer
Q: I was just wondering what it says in the Bible about a person who has been on life support for many years and her/his partner wants to take them off and the parents do not.
A: A review of this WELSNET Q & A section on the case of Terri Schiavo will provide the necessary references for the biblical position on caring for Terri as it relates to taking action to cause her death. This question addresses the sticky subject of who had the Scriptural right to make decisions for Terri. Terri's predicament was not just a physical tragedy but a tragedy of ... Click here for complete answer
Q: I am a physician, lifelong WELS member, and elder in my local congregation. Although I am not privy to all the info about Terri, I do believe she was in a persistent vegetative state and I do not believe it was sinful to remove her feeding tube. I get the sense from the WELS Q and A staff that there really is no situation where treatment can be removed or withheld. I am completely against all forms of euthanasia. However, I believe there are a number of situations where treatment is futile, and in some cases, absurd.
A: There have been questions as to the appropriateness and value of a diagnosis that a patient is in a "persistent vegetative state (PVS)." See a related article on this matter at ... Click here for complete answer
Q: Will we start ending people's time of grace simply because they don't measure up to societal standards?
A: What you are describing is what has long been called the "slippery slope" of medical ethics. Giving a little ground here and there begins a landslide of abuse. As Scripture talks about the growing nature of sin (James 1:14-15) from thought into action, so also do we see sinful actions begetting more alarming sinful actions. It is a slippery slope. ... Click here for complete answer
Q: With all the news about Terri Schiavo, I have been thinking about writing a living will. Can you help?
A: In 1981 the medical community adopted a Uniform Determination of Death. It continues to serve quite well. It describes being dead as ... Click here for complete answer
Q: Does WELS believe that administering food and hydration belong in the realm of ordinary care?
A: WELS has made only one "official" statement on a social issue and that was on abortion in 1979. The WELS has never made an "official" statement on individual cases. That does not mean, however, that WELS is silent on these issues. It is the practice ... Click here for complete answer
Q: I read your recent Q and A on the Terry Schiavo case. I think that you are missing the point. People who are in a persistent vegetative state, as Schiavo is, would have died natural deaths a long time ago if it was not for the ability of modern medicine to keep almost anyone alive indefinitely through artificial means.
A: Your observations concerning Schiavo and the information relating to her condition are not completely accurate and represent much of the misinformation being disseminated by the media and those advocating her death. Despite the fact that ... Click here for complete answer
Q: As Christians who are citizens of the U.S.A., what courses of action might you recommend to protest the murder of Terri, and have our voices actually heard?
A: The case of Terri Schiavo spotlights a serious moral decline in our country and in our people. The mantra of individual rights has evolved ... Click here for complete answer
Q: My question is, what happens if my brother is advised by his pastor that it would allright to take himself off of life support?
A: As you might imagine, it is very difficult to talk about specific treatment and care options in a Q & A forum. There are too many presumptions that have to be made without knowing all of the facts. At best, we can offer some general guidelines. Within the ... Click here for complete answer
Q: Which one as a Lutheran do we practice: sanctity of life or quality of life? Where do we draw the line on feeding tubes and ventilators?
A: Scripture teaches us that life has what is called an intrinsic or inherent value. That definition would be: "Of or relating to the essential nature of a thing. Inherent is perhaps the more comfortable term because life extracts its value from the outside, namely from the Creator and Redeemer. When we talk about ... Click here for complete answer
Q: Is it illegal to keep a patient considered brain dead by particular criteria on life support?
A: This is a question you have to ask a lawyer in the state in which you reside. There isn't any biblical answer to this question. Criteria are set by ... Click here for complete answer
Q: A question was raised concerning the limits of pain God will permit a person to endure.
A: I believe the passage you have in mind is 1 Corinthians 10:13, "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." This passage is speaking of ... Click here for complete answer
Q: How do you know when it is okay to stop prolonging suffering? When is it okay to stop the machines that keep them breathing, or the feeding tubes that keep them alive? Are there any passages in the Bible that talk about this?
A: When dealing with care at the end of life it is helpful to distinguish between preserving life and postponing death. Preserving life means to "provide the comfort, care, and sustenance needed to sustain life, regardless of the quality of life." Postponing death is ... Click here for complete answer
Q: My husband and I are in the process of making living wills and want to be sure that the way we have them made out is pleasing to God.
A: So much depends upon terminology today. So much of what you write about is in legal flux today. Recent well-publicized court cases have brought the issues to ... Click here for complete answer
Q: I was told WELS has a sample health living will and power of attorney to assist their members in writing their advance health directives. Who do I contact to get this information.
A: You can find the documents you are looking for online at the web site for Christian Life Resources ... Click here for complete answer
Q: Is euthanasia whether 'active' or 'passive' in general wrong? Should the most expensive methods be used to try to prevent that a person dies?
A: Euthanasia, actively or passively, has as its prime intent to terminate life. Doing such usurps the authority of God (Deuteronomy 31:39) and violates his strict directive not to take life ... Click here for complete answer
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