Catholic Hospital Directive Conflicts With Advance Directives of Patients

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has reportedly issued new directives that establish an obligation for nearly 600 Catholic hospitals and nursing homes to provide food and water, including through medically assisted means, to those who cannot eat or drink.  According to Paula Spann, Voluntary End-of-LIfe Measures Banned at Catholic Hospitals, NY Times New Old Age Blog, March 8, 2010, the directive will affect patients with advance directives:

Patients whose advance directives prohibit feeding tubes if they have terminal illnesses or have entered a persistent vegetative state . . .  would either have to accept such treatment or transfer to another facility.