Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Articles 1 - 1 of 1
Full-Text Articles in Philosophy
Artificial Nutrition And Hydration For Infants With Life-Terminating Conditions: Rethinking The Catholic Position, L William Uhl
Artificial Nutrition And Hydration For Infants With Life-Terminating Conditions: Rethinking The Catholic Position, L William Uhl
Doctoral Dissertations
Infants with life-terminating conditions (ILTCs) are those whose conditions prevent them from living more than two years. When these infants have difficulty assimilating food and fluids orally, doctors can provide nutrition and hydration through artificial means. While artificial nutrition and hydration (ANH) can provide benefits, it can also result in complications leading to pain and/or distress in addition to that which an ILTC may already be experiencing from one or more underlying conditions.
Many medical experts maintain that withholding or withdrawing ANH can help a patient’s body produce its own analgesics. I consider four categories of ILTCs: 1) infants who …