On Withholding Nutrition and Hydration in the Terminally Ill: Has Palliative Medicine Gone Too Far?

Overview

Journal J Med Ethics

Publisher BMJ Publishing Group

Specialty Medical Ethics

Date 1994 Sep 1

PMID 7527863

Citations 16

Authors

G M Craig

Affiliations

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Abstract

This paper explores ethical issues relating to the management of patients who are terminally ill and unable to maintain their own nutrition and hydration. A policy of sedation without hydration or nutrition is used in palliative medicine under certain circumstances. The author argues that this policy is dangerous, medically, ethically and legally, and can be disturbing for relatives. The role of the family in management is discussed. This issue requires wide debate by the public and the profession.

Citing Articles

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Hayes J, Bruera E, Crawford G, Fleury M, Santos M, Thompson J Support Care Cancer. 2024; 32(4):228.

PMID: 38478135 PMC: 10937805. DOI: 10.1007/s00520-024-08421-6.

["Terminal" dehydration, part 2 : Medical indications and therapeutic approach].

Suchner U, Reudelsterz C, Gog C Anaesthesist. 2018; 67(11):879-892.

PMID: 30367210 DOI: 10.1007/s00101-018-0502-x.

Controversies surrounding continuous deep sedation at the end of life: the parliamentary and societal debates in France.

Raus K, Chambaere K, Sterckx S BMC Med Ethics. 2016; 17(1):36.

PMID: 27357285 PMC: 4928322. DOI: 10.1186/s12910-016-0116-2.

Continuous deep sedation and homicide: an unsolved problem in law and professional morality.

DEN Hartogh G Med Health Care Philos. 2015; 19(2):285-97.

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Alternative forms of hydration in patients with cancer in the last days of life: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

Davies A, Waghorn M, Boyle J, Gallagher A, Johnsen S Trials. 2015; 16:464.

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