title: Artificial nutrition at the end of life: ethical issues.
abstract: Artificial nutrition is a medical treatment that first of all needs a sound scientific base before prescribing it. This base is absent for dying patients and patients in the end stage of dementia. Because feeding is a very emotional and symbolical issue, patient and family may request this treatment despite the lack of evidence. These issues should be addressed in good communication with patient and relatives. For comatose patients and patients in a persistent vegetative state artificial nutrition is a necessary support to bridge the time until either recovery is imminent or improbable. At that moment artificial nutrition no longer contributes to the life of the patient and should be ceased. Artificial nutrition has no place in patients that voluntary decide to stop eating and drinking in order to die.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ethics and Philosophy, Na 2117, Erasmus MC, PO Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Department of General Practice, J2-123, AMC, PO Box 22660, 1100 DD Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: s.vandevathorst@erasmusmc.nl.
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: van de Vathorst
mesh_terms: D004992:Ethics, Medical; D006801:Humans; D009752:Nutritional Status; D010288:Parenteral Nutrition / Q000941:ethics*; D018458:Persistent Vegetative State / Q000628:therapy; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000941:ethics*
keywords: Artificial nutrition; Coma; Dementia; End-of-life issues; Ethics; PVS