title: [Informed consent to the insertion of a PEG tube in a 53-year-old male patient with highly advanced dementia].
abstract: In patients with advanced dementia and dysphagia, regular fluid- and food intake together with oral medication can be guaranteed by insertion of a PEG tube. Consent to a treatment in a patient without legal capacity requires nomination of a legal substitute by an Austrian court. The following case report describes the problems associated with this particular situation exposing additional psychosocial stress to closest relatives and to the palliative care team in charge for the patient. This case report describes the legal options together with the finally chosen path of medical treatment which in clinical praxis may not always match.
authors.affiliation: Department für Palliativmedizin, Krankenhaus der Barmherzigen Schwestern Ried, Schloßberg 1, 4910, Ried im Innkreis, Österreich, christian.roden@bhs.at.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Roden
mesh_terms: D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000523:psychology*; D001317:Austria; D017028:Caregivers / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D004750:Enteral Nutrition / Q000941:ethics / Q000523:psychology; D017041:Ethics Committees / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D005774:Gastrostomy / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000523:psychology*; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000523:psychology*; D007872:Legal Guardians / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D016743:Mental Competency / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology