Introduction to End of Life Nutrition
Nutrition professionals, such as Registered Dietitians, work in a variety of settings; including clinical, public health, private practice, medical nutrition therapy, and sports nutrition. In each of these settings there are a variety of ethical challenges that the Registered Dietitian may face. One such challenge, especially within hospice care, is end of life nutrition. A study conducted by Aristotle University at a Clinical Nutrition Unit found that all fifteen employees named the decision to withdraw artificial nutrition and hydration as the main ethical challenge that they faced (Tsaloglidou, et al., 2008, p.69).
End of life decisions whether nutrition related or not, are never easy on the terminal individual or their family. In this paper we will explore the ethical challenge of the withdrawal of artificial nutrition and hydration at the end of life.
Ethical Challenges in End of Life Nutrition
Beatrice is an 85 year-old female with late-stage Alzheimer’s. Beatrice has lived in a skilled nursing facility for almost two years and about six months ago developed dysphagia and the decision was made to begin artificial nutrition and hydration …show more content…
There are many possibilities; Beatrice, the Registered Dietitian, the daughter, the sons, Beatrice’s doctor, an ethics committee, or even a judge. The rightful moral agent is not always clear-cut or easily identifiable. Without an Advanced Directive on file Beatrice’s daughter and sons do not have a legal right to request, or block, the withdrawal of Beatrice’s G-tube. Legally artificial nutrition and hydration is a medical treatment that can be denied at any time (National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, 2015, para.12). The locus of authority must be determined before an ethical decision can be made on whether or not to withdraw Beatrice’s artificial nutrition and
Nutrition professionals, such as Registered Dietitians, work in a variety of settings; including clinical, public health, private practice, medical nutrition therapy, and sports nutrition. In each of these settings there are a variety of ethical challenges that the Registered Dietitian may face. One such challenge, especially within hospice care, is end of life nutrition. A study conducted by Aristotle University at a Clinical Nutrition Unit found that all fifteen employees named the decision to withdraw artificial nutrition and hydration as the main ethical challenge that they faced (Tsaloglidou, et al., 2008, p.69).
End of life decisions whether nutrition related or not, are never easy on the terminal individual or their family. In this paper we will explore the ethical challenge of the withdrawal of artificial nutrition and hydration at the end of life.
Ethical Challenges in End of Life Nutrition
Beatrice is an 85 year-old female with late-stage Alzheimer’s. Beatrice has lived in a skilled nursing facility for almost two years and about six months ago developed dysphagia and the decision was made to begin artificial nutrition and hydration …show more content…
There are many possibilities; Beatrice, the Registered Dietitian, the daughter, the sons, Beatrice’s doctor, an ethics committee, or even a judge. The rightful moral agent is not always clear-cut or easily identifiable. Without an Advanced Directive on file Beatrice’s daughter and sons do not have a legal right to request, or block, the withdrawal of Beatrice’s G-tube. Legally artificial nutrition and hydration is a medical treatment that can be denied at any time (National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, 2015, para.12). The locus of authority must be determined before an ethical decision can be made on whether or not to withdraw Beatrice’s artificial nutrition and