title: Ethics roundtable debate: withdrawal of tube feeding in a patient with persistent vegetative state where the patients wishes are unclear and there is family dissension.
abstract: The decision to withdraw or withhold life supporting treatment in moribund patients is difficult under any circumstances. When the patient becomes incompetent to clarify their wishes regarding continued maintenance in long-term facilities, surrogates sometimes cannot agree, further clouding the issue. We examine a case where the State's interests come into play, forcing a controversial resolution.
authors.affiliation: Intensive Care Unit, Princess Margaret Hospital, Lai Chi Kok, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Buckley
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Crippen
authors.forename: Anthony L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: DeWitt
authors.forename: Malcolm
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fisher
authors.forename: Antonios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Liolios
authors.forename: Christine L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Scheetz
authors.forename: Leslie M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Whetstine
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003657:Decision Making / Q000941:ethics*; D004750:Enteral Nutrition; D005066:Euthanasia, Passive / Q000941:ethics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D005260:Female; D006076:Government; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D007872:Legal Guardians; D008020:Life Support Care / Q000941:ethics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D009735:Nursing Homes; D018458:Persistent Vegetative State / Q000175:diagnosis; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D018454:Spouses; D028761:Withholding Treatment / Q000941:ethics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence