 |
|
State Legislation and Use of Feeding Tubes in Cognitively Impaired Patients
|
|
| Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text and any section headings. |
|
|
|
To the Editor: In their nationwide US survey, Dr Mitchell and colleagues1 found that more than one third of severely cognitively impaired residents of nursing homes have feeding tubes. They also found that use of feeding tubes was influenced by several clinical, organizational, financial, and demographic characteristics.
However, the authors did not consider variation between states in whether this intervention is legally considered to be a "heroic measure." In New York State, for instance, the courts have ruled that the provision of artificial nutrition is not considered a heroic measure.2 This sets a higher legal standard to withhold feeding tubes. In this case, to withhold these basic provisions from a patient lacking capability or proxy to make health care decisions, one must rely on what the courts have termed clear and convincing evidence that the patient would refuse a feeding tube if able to express his or her views. This . . . [Full Text of this Article]
Daniel D. Buff, MD
St Johns Episcopal Hospital
Far Rockaway, NY
 CiteULike  Connotea  Del.icio.us  Digg  Reddit  Technorati  Twitter
What's this?
RELATED ARTICLES
State Legislation and Use of Feeding Tubes in Cognitively Impaired Patients—Reply
Susan L. Mitchell, Joan M. Teno, and Vincent Mor
JAMA. 2003;290(15):1996.
EXTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Clinical and Organizational Factors Associated With Feeding Tube Use Among Nursing Home Residents With Advanced Cognitive Impairment
Susan L. Mitchell, Joan M. Teno, Jason Roy, Glen Kabumoto, and Vincent Mor
JAMA. 2003;290(1):73-80.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Use of Feeding Tubes in Nursing Home Residents With Severe Cognitive Impairment
Joan M. Teno, Vincent Mor, Debra DeSilva, Glen Kabumoto, Jason Roy, and Terrie Wetle
JAMA. 2002;287(24):3211-3212.
EXTRACT
| FULL TEXT
|
