To prove his point he began a neurological assessment on the patient. It was obvious that she was awake, alert and orientated. He angrily canceled the transfer to hospice and ordered a tube feeding and intravenous. She escaped the death sentence. Unfortunately many others like my grandmother have not.
Degenerative illnesses are the real culprits.
And these fatal conditions can strike at any age. The Carmelite Sisters relate the story of a friend whose husband was diagnosed with terminal cancer, but not expected to die for several months or a year. This man had been away from the Catholic Church and the sacraments, and was estranged from his children. One day while in hospital he complained to his wife of pain. When the doctor arrived he gave an injection through the intravenous line.