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PubMed · 11659211

Artificial feeding for severely disoriented, elderly patients.

Neil H McAlister·Nazlin K McAlister·Catherine G Challin
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Abstract

The issue of artificial feeding for patients with dementia who refuse feeding by hand is a wrenching emotional problem that can cloud clinical judgement. It is helpful to apply an analytic approach to decision making. There are five steps: gathering a comprehensive clinical database; defining the goal of treatment; knowing the treatment options available, their burdens and potential benefits; understanding the law; and defining the moral framework in which care is being given. Such an approach can be used to formulate a plan of treatment in the best interests of incompetent elderly patients who cannot speak for themselves.

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Advance DirectivesAgedAltruismBeneficenceCanadaCoercionConscienceCost-Benefit AnalysisCultural DiversityDecision MakingDementiaEquipment and SuppliesEthicsEuthanasia, PassiveHumansJurisprudenceLife Support CareMental CompetencyNutritional SupportPaternalismPatient CarePhysiciansRight to DieRiskRisk AssessmentSocial ValuesThird-Party ConsentTreatment RefusalWithholding TreatmentAnalytical ApproachDeath and EuthanasiaMental Health TherapiesProfessional Patient RelationshipJournal Article

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BibTeXRIS

Neil H McAlister, Nazlin K McAlister, Catherine G Challin. 1989. Artificial feeding for severely disoriented, elderly patients.. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11659211/

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