Bishop Mark O'Toole of Plymouth An English bishop expressed solidarity with the family of a man on feeding tubes who appealed to a court for him to be kept alive.
Bishop Mark O’Toole of Plymouth said in a statement sent to Catholic News Service that the English court’s decision “to allow for the withdrawal of hydration and nutrition is very worrying”. Bishop O’Toole said that “providing food and water to very sick patients – even if by artificial means – is a basic level of care”.
The Polish citizen suffered a heart attack in November, and in mid-December, the Court of Protection gave permission to withdraw artificial hydration and nutrition January 7. The removal of the tube was delayed until January 13 while the birth family applied to the UK Court of Appeal. Court documentation made public January 14 reveals that the Court of Appeal had rejected the application, with withdrawal of feeding tubes permitted again from 6 pm that same day.