Extraordinary care? He was denied ordinary care, at least by Catholic teachings.
Everyone should have an advance directive to protect himself from unnecessary medical treatment at the end of life. Withholding/withdrawing food and water is a natural – and even pleasant – way to die, and is a perfectly ethical means of controlling the time of death. “The principle of double effect” can be used to justify terminal sedation.
People I know in the medical field tell me that starvation is one of the worst ways to go. However I do agree with this part.
Everyone should have an advance directive to protect himself from unnecessary medical treatment at the end of life.
Advance directives can also protect you from Michael Schiavo types of situations where he wants the insurance money.
Up till the day of the seizures he drank Ensures only when he wanted them. His want became less frequent but he was only denied one thing. At first I denied him Tomato soup solely because I honestly thought it would make him throw up. A day later I gave in and warmed him some. A few sips he was happy and it was the last thing he had to eat or drink. I'm glad I did give it too him but a four course meal at the point he was at would not have added a day nor gave him any comfort nor likely would a tube as the catheters he had pulled out several times. Some things don't have one size fits all answers.
If he was prognosed at even another month? Yea I see the consideration for a feeding tube.