[Clinical ethics and nutritional support].

Abstract

Artificial nutrition is a modern technique enjoying a great boom of late. Regulations on the use of important clinical and technological advances in connection with nutritional support in certain groups of patients represent one of the ethical problems most often posed in daily medical practice. Terminal patient and those with irreversible neurological damage are population groups at risk of these ethical problems when it comes to the prescription, withdrawal or omission of artificial nourishment and hydration. The establishment of certain guidelines in order to resolve the ethical problems arising seems to be a complex process. So far, no consensus has been reached among doctors, with no clear legal framework and no universally accepted ethical principles. It is necessary to ensure the consideration of all the circumstances and parties coming into conflict in order to find the best solution for all concerned by means of shared decision-making.