Ethics roundtable debate: withdrawal of tube feeding in a patient with persistent vegetative state where the patients wishes are unclear and there is family dissension

Tom Buckley; David Crippen; Anthony L DeWitt; Malcolm Fisher; Antonios Liolios; Christine L Scheetz; Leslie M Whetstine

doi:10.1186/cc2451

Ethics roundtable debate: withdrawal of tube feeding in a patient with persistent vegetative state where the patients wishes are unclear and there is family dissension

Crit Care. 2004 Apr;8(2):79-84. doi: 10.1186/cc2451. Epub 2004 Feb 6.

Authors

Tom Buckley¹, David Crippen, Anthony L DeWitt, Malcolm Fisher, Antonios Liolios, Christine L Scheetz, Leslie M Whetstine

Affiliation

¹ Intensive Care Unit, Princess Margaret Hospital, Lai Chi Kok, Kowloon, Hong Kong.

PMID: 15025760
PMCID: PMC420027
DOI: 10.1186/cc2451

Abstract

The decision to withdraw or withhold life supporting treatment in moribund patients is difficult under any circumstances. When the patient becomes incompetent to clarify their wishes regarding continued maintenance in long-term facilities, surrogates sometimes cannot agree, further clouding the issue. We examine a case where the State's interests come into play, forcing a controversial resolution.

Publication types

Case Reports
Editorial

MeSH terms

Adult
Attitude of Health Personnel*
Decision Making / ethics*
Enteral Nutrition
Euthanasia, Passive / ethics*
Euthanasia, Passive / legislation & jurisprudence
Female
Government
Hong Kong
Humans
Legal Guardians
Life Support Care / ethics*
Life Support Care / legislation & jurisprudence
Nursing Homes
Persistent Vegetative State* / diagnosis
Professional-Family Relations*
Spouses
Withholding Treatment / ethics*
Withholding Treatment / legislation & jurisprudence