title: Ethical issues in instituting and discontinuing enteral feeding.
abstract: The shift from inpatient care has not lessened the importance of ethical issues in caring for patients. Dilemmas involving withholding and withdrawing enteral nutrition require input from the patient, family, and caregivers. Decisions to forego or discontinue treatment such as home enteral support should never be distinguished from the responsibility of providing support and compassionate care throughout life, even during dying.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, St. Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110-0250, USA.
authors.forename: V M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Herrmann
authors.forename: P F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Norris
mesh_terms: D001293:Attitude to Death; D017028:Caregivers; D003657:Decision Making; D004645:Empathy; D004750:Enteral Nutrition; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D005195:Family Relations; D006699:Home Care Services; D017051:Hospice Care; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D007883:Legislation, Medical; D010358:Patient Participation; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D028761:Withholding Treatment