title: Advance directives, dementia, and withholding food and water by mouth.
abstract: People with dementia who are no longer competent have limited control over how their lives end. But an advance directive to withhold food and water by mouth could be used to ensure that one does not live for years in severe dementia. Such directives are arguably already legal.
authors.forename: Paul T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Menzel
authors.forename: M Colette
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Chandler-Cramer
mesh_terms: D024362:Advance Directive Adherence / Q000941:ethics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D016223:Advance Directives / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000639:trends; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000175:diagnosis; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D018450:Disease Progression; D004326:Drinking; D004435:Eating; D005066:Euthanasia, Passive / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006707:Homes for the Aged / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006801:Humans; D008484:Medicaid; D006278:Medicare; D016743:Mental Competency; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D012297:Right to Die / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014481:United States; D028761:Withholding Treatment / Q000941:ethics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence