In this case the patient and the family are in agreement that life support should be continued but it is the doctors that want to discontinue it CONTRARY TO THE WISHES and religious beliefs of the family.

I think that a distiction should be drawn between someone who is in the terminal stages of cancer and suffering much pain and somone who is in a comatose state and feeling no pain at all.

As I stated before, the Jewish law does not require someone with a terminal prognosis to be hooked up to life support but does not forbid it either. However, once hooked up it is forbidden to withdraw it.

Most of these cases now arise with stroke victims where the standard treatment now is to put the patient in to a drug induced coma for a few days so that body temperature can be lowered. This necessitates hookup to a ventilator and feeding tube. Many patients do recover with this treatment but those who do not may not be disconnected.
However, since they remain comatose and do not suffer any pain there is no urgency that would dictate hastening the patient's demise.

The Jewish law provides for a "Halachic Living Will" which names an Orthodox Rabbi or an organization such as Agudath Israel Of America as the final decision maker in such cases. They have experts on their staff such as physicians, Rabbis, and attorneys (all orthodox) who are competent to decide each case on its merits. They will work with the family to see that the wishes of the patient and family are carried out "within the framework of Torah law".

One thing that nobody wants is the fate of the patient to be determined by the bean counters at the HMO and this organization will go to court if necessary to prevent this from ever happening.

The accepted criteria for death according to Jewish law (for purposes of organ donation), is brain stem death. This is in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Moses Tendler who is the leading recognized expert in this field. He is a Professor of Biology, Talmud, & Medical Ethics at Yeshiva University and is an MD as well as a Rabbi. And yes, there is such a thing as a Jewish Hospice which exists right here in Rockland County, NY where I live.

                                                          SOL