J Tube

My father was fed by g-tube for eight years and now has a j-tube because his stomach stopped working - it no longer passed his feeding to his intesine. His doctor said that his stomach would continue to produce acid that would likely back-up into his lungs if his stomach was not pumped regularly. Now his g-tube is used a suction tube but stomach acid leaks out around the tube causing bad burns on his skin. This wasn't a problem before - it leaked ocassionally, but the feeding must have diluted the acid so it didn't burn as much.

My questions are - is the g-tube necessary? Does having the tube with a balloon in his stomach activate the procuction of acid? If the tube were removed and his stomach was completely empty would his stomach stop procducing acid? It would be a HUGE help to him if the g-tube could be removed. Thank you for any help you can provide.