Ethics of Artificial Nutrition
نویسندگان
چکیده
Artificial nutrition represents the whole set of medical therapies which totally or partially replace oral feeding when this is no longer possible. Artificial nutrition needs to be initiated and withdrawn depending on the balance between the advantages and disadvantages induced to the patient. The medical world frequently encounters dilemmas about initiating and withdrawing this treatment. Numerous controversies still exist regarding the appropriate use of enteral or parenteral nutrition in certain categories of patients, such as those with strokes, with persistent vegetative states, with dementia, with neoplasms or other terminal illnesses. The decision to initiate, withhold or withdraw this medical procedure needs to be based on the patient’s autonomy. If the patient is no longer capable of making decisions and has not left previous clear directives, it is the responsibility of the patient’s legal representative, of the family or of the Court to decide according to the medical data on the respective case and the legal provisions in force in each country. Other ethical issues are generated by the obligation to rationalize health care resources.
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