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I agree with Dr. Ablow that it would have been better to strongly advocate for other alternatives, including advances meds for pain management and depression. These conditions are treatable: and as I understand it, such meds are neither burdensome nor futile.

Finding a reason to live --- for the good of herself or for a good example to others --- even one more week, one month, one year, is also a very good thing to advanceas a positive alternative. I'm thinking she might have liked to make a music video...? With a favorite artist?

OTOH I'm not fully convinced that removing a vent is suicide, if the vent itself is terribly burdensome. I have some experience with this type of medical judgment (my own and my mother's) and in both cases, I believe we were right to go forward with the ventilator, despite the fact that it was rather ghastly and in my mother's case --- as it turned out --- futile.

Is removing a vent suicide? I could be persuaded either way. It is not morally obligatory to accept burdensome and futile treatment. And ventilation is not what's considered basic palliative care, which I think is always morally obligatory.

Comments?

More discussion may help clarify this for me.

From a Catholic bio-ethics perspective, ventilators usually are extraordinary measures. I believe nutrition and liquid are considered 'required'.

Here's a link to a PDF that outlines some guidelines: http://www.ncbcenter.org/files/6914/6946/4143/What_About_Ventilators_June_2012.pdf