Withdrawing a Feeding Tube is Now Legal in Germany

An attorney in Germany was suspended for nine months for advising a daughter to cut off her comatose mother’s feeding tube. The Federal Court of Justice overturned that ruling and acquitted the attorney.

Germany’s Justice Minister, Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger, said that this ruling clarifies cases involving terminally ill patients. Removing artificial life support is now legal in Germany if the patient gave clear consent. However, active assisted suicide is still illegal.

See German Court Legalizes Euthanasia with Patient Consent, BBC News, June 25, 2010.

Special thanks to Joel Dobris (Professor of Law, UC Davis School of Law) for bringing this to my attention.