Hektoen International

A Journal of Medical Humanities

Tag: Ethical and Religious Directives

  • Must life always be prolonged?

    Patrick D. GuinanChicago, Illinois, United States This is an open-ended question and, for that reason, difficult to answer. We agree that life is a natural good and should not be willfully terminated (self-defense and a just war being exceptions). But in many instances life can be prolonged, almost indefinitely, by such means as parenteral enterostomal gastrostomy…