France
Reminding this ethical behaviour is timely whereas in our country, some people think they can lawfully interrupt food and water administration for patients in "vegetative state". They rely on the article 3 of Léonetti law stipulating that the ill patient may refuse not only ?a treatment?, but also ?any treatment?, the report of the motives explaining that such provision ?would implicitly affect the right to refuse artificial nutrition, this being considered by European Council of Doctors and its theologists as a treatment”. Even more, this document of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith undoubtedly encourages those who are involved for years at the service of these patients and their families. In France, a ministry circular of 2002, invites Regional Hospitalisation Agencies to implement units with some long term welcoming beds adapted to patients in ?chronic vegetative state?. Moreover, resuscitators work for preventing these states through the development of technical tools of prognosis. The quasi certainty of an evolution towards the “vegetative state” would allow an unreasonable obstinacy in intensive care.
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