Catholic healthcare authorities in the United States are coming under fire over revised directives on care for patients in a persistent vegetative state. Back in November, US Catholic bishops updated their health care guidelines after the Vatican declared that such patients should be given nutrition and hydration, except in some exceptional circumstances. The news passed largely unnoticed.

But this week the Chicago Tribune asked whether a Catholic hospital would honour a patient’s advance directives if they stipulated that no food and water should be given. It interviewed elderly Catholics who were horrified at the thought of lingering unconsciousness. "My pleasure is in being part of the human race," said one of them. "If that's gone, if I can't interact with other people,… click here to read whole article and make comments