[Alberta's Child]

From a medical/ethical standpoint, the difference between removing a feeding tube and shutting off a ventilator is enormous. A person who cannot breathe on his own effectively dies of natural causes, while someone who relies on assistance for feeding/hydration does not. When a hospital removes a feeding tube, they've basically decided to kill the patient as opposed to letting the patient die.

[8mmMauser]

Is it a question of whether he is snuffed or how he is snuffed?

[BykrBayb]

My father-in-law carries an oxygen tank with him. If I take it away, will he die of natural causes?

[Scotswife]

"From a medical/ethical standpoint, the difference between removing a feeding tube and shutting off a ventilator is enormous. A person who cannot breathe on his own effectively dies of natural causes, while someone who relies on assistance for feeding/hydration does not. When a hospital removes a feeding tube, they've basically decided to kill the patient as opposed to letting the patient die."

true...but I still struggle with this notion that ventilator automatically = extraordinary means.
In other words...not everyone on a ventilator is doomed to die. Ventilators are often used to aide in a person's recovery - or to buy them some time when diagnosing the problem proves to be difficult.

I think applying a blanket rule that patients on ventilators are fair game would eliminate many people from their possible recovery.