Clinical approaches to the withdrawal of nutrition and hydration.
The request for withdrawal of nutrition and hydration from the vegetative patient is rare, but when it occurs it causes considerable anxiety for the clinical team. This anxiety is exacerbated by the need to seek a declaration from court that withdrawal of treatment would be legal. This paper discusses the process from the time of the request to the withdrawal of the tube feeding, and the actions the clinical team needs to take.
Andrews
Keith
K
Institute of Complex Neurodisability, Royal Hospital for Neurodisability, London. kandrews@rhn.org.uk
D003657:Decision Making; D005066:Euthanasia, Passive / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D005190:Family; D005440:Fluid Therapy; D006801:Humans; D018529:Nutritional Support; D010348:Patient Care Team; D018458:Persistent Vegetative State; D006113:United Kingdom; D028761:Withholding Treatment / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence