title: [Foregoing artificial feeding and hydration for nursing home patients in the last phase of life].
abstract: For 3 nursing home patients in bad physical and psychiatric condition and with a poor prognosis, 2 women aged 86 and 84 years and 1 man aged 55 years, it was decided to forgo artificial feeding and hydration, after which they passed away quietly within about a week. It appears that dying in that way does not cause much suffering. Before the decision of forgoing is taken the following factors should be considered: the cause of a diminishing food and fluid intake, the severity and prognosis of underlying diseases and the (supposed) wishes of the patient. Therefore an open communication with relatives and nurses is necessary.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kruit
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Ribbe
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: van der Wal
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000075202:Contraindications; D003704:Dementia / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005440:Fluid Therapy / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018447:Medical Futility; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000592:standards*; D018529:Nutritional Support / Q000592:standards; D018458:Persistent Vegetative State / Q000628:therapy*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000379:methods*; D016312:Treatment Refusal
vernacular_title: Afzien van kunstmatige toediening van voeding en vocht bij verpleeghuispatiënten in de laatste levensfase.