"If a patient in ‘permanent vegetative state’ is supplied with nutriment and hydration by artificial ways, may their supply be interrupted if competent physicians, with moral certainty, think that the patient will never recover consciousness?": it is the second question asked the Holy See by the United States Episcopal Conference. The question was answered by the Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Card. William Levada, through a document dated August 1st, 2007, and made known by the Press Room of the Holy See today. The answer to this second question states: "No. A patient in ‘permanent vegetative state’ is a person, with its fundamental human dignity. Therefore, that person must be supplied with all the proportionate and ordinary therapies which, in principle, include the supply of water and food by artificial ways, too". (to be continued)
