title: The dilemma of withholding or withdrawing nutrition.
abstract: Recently, societal concerns have developed about the artificial prolongation of dying. Life extension is not always viewed as humanitarian. Artificial nutrition and hydration are seen frequently as necessary comfort measures and not merely life extenders. Now debate is rising about whether or not even these basic life support measures are not merely prolonging dying. In this paper, the issue of withholding or withdrawing nutrition and hydration from certain patients is discussed, including the competing ethical arguments, the nursing perspective and the implications of this dilemma for nursing, health care and society.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Wurzbach
mesh_terms: D026686:Beneficence; D004993:Ethics, Nursing; D005502:Food; D006801:Humans; D008020:Life Support Care; D028681:Moral Obligations; D010166:Palliative Care; D010344:Patient Advocacy; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D012297:Right to Die; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012945:Social Values; D013727:Terminal Care; D026712:Value of Life; D035761:Wedge Argument; D028761:Withholding Treatment