Christian Worldview Concepts

Feeding Tubes and End-of-Life Decision Making

Is It Our Right to Refuse Medical Treatment?

Assuming that Terri Shiavo had clearly stated her wishes, that she had communicated clearly that she did not want to be kept alive by a feeding tube, would she not have such a right? In modern medicine, patient autonomy is considered virtually absolute. However, shrouding ultimate decisions about life and death under the rubric of human autonomy is both medically and theologically problematic.

Medically, we do not give complete free reign to individual autonomy. Doctors are not obligated to perform whatever medical procedure a patient might demand. A patient does not have an absolute right to have a physician remove a healthy limb. There are certain limits we place on individual autonomy.

Theologically, what is an autonomous human being in a world created by and ruled by a sovereign God? The notion of unfettered individual freedom gives people a false sense of personal power over their circumstances. However, the fact that tragic circumstances befall us is a reminder that we do not have ultimate control over our lives. Our lives are not of our own making, but are the gifts of God. He is the Author of life, and He is the ultimate taker of human life as well. Our individual freedom does not extend to declaring ourselves free from God!

In light of this brief discussion of autonomy, do individuals have a biblically-grounded right to be starved to death when their lives no longer have meaning to themselves or others? From a biblical perspective, we have no such right. The sixth commandment states, "Thou shalt not kill." Any analysis of this verse and its application within Scripture yields an interpretation that self-murder is included in its scope.