Patient refusal of nutrition and hydration

Image:Refusal of treatment form.jpg People who feel they are near the end of their life often consciously refuse foodand/or water. Published studies [1]indicate that "within the context of adequate palliative care, the refusal of food and fluids does not contribute to suffering among the terminally ill", and might actually contribute to a comfortable passage from life: "At least for some persons, starvation does correlate with reported euphoria."

See also

• Fasting
• Living will

References

• Patient Refusal of Nutrition and Hydration: Walking the Ever-Finer LineAmerican Journal Hospice & Palliative Care, pp. 8-13, March/April 1995
• END-OF-LIFE Nutrition

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