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Artificial nutrition and hydration

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The issue of nutrition and hydration at the end of life is more than a purely clinical one. Often the patient's family members are in severe emotional distress and see providing food and hydration as a way to preserve their loved one's life. What ethical duty does a health care professional have to the family these cases? When a patient is terminal, how can you assure the family that withdrawing fluids and nutrition is the best choice clinically and ethically?

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The solution discusses the issue of nutrition and hydration at the end of life. It considers how you can assure the family that withdrawing fluids and nutrition is the best choice clinically and ethically.

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Ethical issues with the elderly
The issue of nutrition and hydration at the end of life is more than a purely clinical one. Often the patient's family members are in severe emotional distress and see providing food and hydration as a way to preserve their loved one's life. What ethical duty does a health care professional have to the family these cases? When a patient is terminal, how can you assure the family that withdrawing fluids and nutrition is the best choice clinically and ethically?

The ethical duty that health care professional have to the family in providing food and hydration at the end of one life is totally dependent on the family and the patient themselves. First and foremost, tube feeding and hydration should be given to the patient if they contribute to the overall treatment goals for the patient. The treatment goals should focus on the wishes and interests of the patients. For instance, if ...

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