Hospital visit will highlight end-of-life controversy

The “Pope’s hospital” faces accusations that it is carrying out euthanasia on very sick patients ahead of a planned visit by Francis next Friday (27 June), writes Hannah Roberts.

The reputation of the Agostino Gemelli Hospital, where John Paul II was operated on and which is marking its fiftieth anniversary, has suffered after one of its ­specialist doctors revealed he has been discontinuing certain forms of treatment at patients’ request.

Motor neurone disease specialist Mario Sabatelli says by removing tracheostomies from patients who no longer want them, he is giving them control over their own destinies. However, critics see this as a form of euthanasia.