Making Sense of Bioethics with Fr. Tad

The use of ventilators can pose particularly challenging problems during end-of-life situations for families. When should we place a loved one on a ventilator? If somebody is on a ventilator, can we ever “pull the plug?” The answer depends on whether the use of a ventilator in a particular case can be considered “ordinary” or “extraordinary.”

Many hospitals and obstetrics programs are now offering an improved alternative known as “perinatal hospice.” This approach seeks to set up a particular supportive environment within the hospital or another setting in which all the members of the family can receive the child following delivery, hold and name the newborn and fully acknowledge his or her brief, but meaningful life.