Biomedicine can have
"decidedly disconcerting" effects in chronic illness, the head
of the Pontifical Academy for Life, Msgr Vincenzo Paglia, said
Tuesday.
"Biomedicine's capacity to treat acute illnesses often
entails the production of chronic pathological situations," he
said.
Resuscitation techniques, for example, "on the one hand
permit decisive lifesaving interventions, but on the other
produce decidedly disconcerting effects.
"For example they lead sick people to remain in what are
called 'vegetative states'.
"Increasingly, therefore, prolonging life may mean prolonging
the time of co-existing with illness."
Msgr Paglia said treatment should be brought into line "with
the dignity of the human person".
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA