What are the ethical considerations in end of life nutrition care?

What are the ethical considerations in end of life nutrition care?

Understanding the principles underlying biomedical ethics is important for physicians and their patients to solve the problems they face in end-of-life care. The ethical principles are autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, fidelity, and justice.

What does the law say about artificial nutrition and hydration?

Artificial nutrition and hydration is a medical treatment. Legally, people can refuse it at the end of life. When it is unclear whether someone wants end-of-life medical treatment, doctors usually continue the treatment.

What are the main ethical and legal considerations that apply to work in palliative care?

Ethics

  • Clincial integrity – care of the whole person.
  • Respect for persons – the patient is the best person to make decisions about their care, in keeping with their values and beliefs.
  • Justice – taking into account the needs of all concerned in the care of the patient, including family, carers and others.

Why hydration and nutrition requirements are an important part in the end-of-life care of a patient?

Particularly during the early stages of palliative care, nutrition support can give residents energy they need and also reduce their risk of infection, thereby improving quality of life. Nutritional goals should reflect other goals of treatment and should be made along with the individual resident and their family.

What are the legal issues involved in end-of-life care?

End- of-Life Law Resources

  • Capacity and consent to medical treatment.
  • Advance Directives.
  • Stopping treatment.
  • Withholding and withdrawing life-sustaining treatment from adults.
  • Substitute decision making for adults.
  • Futile or non-beneficial treatment.
  • Emergency medical treatment in each state and territory.

How the traditional end-of-life care may not ethically meet the needs of the dying person?

During EOL care, ethical dilemmas may arise from situations such as communication breakdowns, patient autonomy being compromised, ineffective symptom management, non-beneficial care, and shared decision making.

Does artificial nutrition prolong life?

Background. Artificial nutrition and hydration (ANH) were originally developed to provide short-term support for patients who were acutely ill. For patients near the end of life, ANH is unlikely to prolong life and can potentially lead to medical complications and increase suffering.

Do patients have the right to refuse artificial nutrition and hydration?

No. Everyone has the right to refuse or discontinue a medical treatment. Legally, artificial nutrition and hydration is considered a medical treatment that may be refused at the end of life. If the patient is able to make decisions, the patient can tell his/her physician what he or she wants.

What is traditional end-of-life care?

End of life care aims to help you to live as comfortably as possible in the time you have left. It involves managing physical symptoms and getting emotional support for you and your family and friends. You might need more of this type of care towards the end of your life.

Why is nutrition important in palliative care?

Nutrition in palliative care and at the end of life should be one of the goals for improving quality of life. It is important to address issues of food and feeding at this time to assist in the management of troublesome symptoms as well as to enhance the remaining life.

Why is the general recommendation to avoid artificial nutrition and hydration at the end of life?

Artificial nutrition and hydration (ANH) were originally developed to provide short-term support for patients who were acutely ill. For patients near the end of life, ANH is unlikely to prolong life and can potentially lead to medical complications and increase suffering.

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