TY - JOUR
T1 - Artificial nutrition and hydration
T2 - The evolution of ethics, evidence, and policy
AU - Brody, Howard
AU - Hermer, Laura D.
AU - Scott, Larry D.
AU - Grumbles, L. Lee
AU - Kutac, Julie E.
AU - McCammon, Susan D.
N1 - Copyright:
Copyright 2012 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2011/9
Y1 - 2011/9
N2 - Introduction: The debate over use of artificial nutrition and hydration (ANH) in terminal illness, including advanced dementia, remains contentious despite extensive ethical and empirical investigation. Methods: For this narrative review we undertook a focused, selective review of literature reflecting ethical analysis, empirical assessment of outcomes, legal responses, and thinking within the Roman Catholic religious tradition. Results: The history of the debate over the past 60 years results from a complex interplay of ethical concerns, a growing empirical database, legal changes, public opinion, and financial as well as institutional concerns. Discussions of ANH today are often conducted without any understanding of this historical context. Discussion: Patients' interests could be better protected through remedial action at both the individual and the policy levels.
AB - Introduction: The debate over use of artificial nutrition and hydration (ANH) in terminal illness, including advanced dementia, remains contentious despite extensive ethical and empirical investigation. Methods: For this narrative review we undertook a focused, selective review of literature reflecting ethical analysis, empirical assessment of outcomes, legal responses, and thinking within the Roman Catholic religious tradition. Results: The history of the debate over the past 60 years results from a complex interplay of ethical concerns, a growing empirical database, legal changes, public opinion, and financial as well as institutional concerns. Discussions of ANH today are often conducted without any understanding of this historical context. Discussion: Patients' interests could be better protected through remedial action at both the individual and the policy levels.
KW - artificial nutrition and hydration
KW - ethics
KW - health policy
KW - palliative care
KW - terminal care
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U2 - 10.1007/s11606-011-1659-z
DO - 10.1007/s11606-011-1659-z
M3 - Article
C2 - 21380599
AN - SCOPUS:80052295254
SN - 0884-8734
VL - 26
SP - 1053
EP - 1058
JO - Journal of general internal medicine
JF - Journal of general internal medicine
IS - 9
ER -