what kind of lawyer do i need to stop someone from stopping feeding tubes

by Dr. Torey Friesen Sr. 8 min read

Is tube feeding the last thing you can do for a patient?

Jun 01, 1997 · Many people hold the mistaken notion that tube feeding and hydration is the "last thing" that can be done for the patient, says Cheryl Moxley, RD, LD, clinical nutrition specialist at the Washington (DC) Hospital Center. Never allow medical technology to become a substitute for comfort care, Zerwekh says.

What are the ethical issues with feeding tubes?

Nov 06, 2016 · My mom had her hands tied down to stop her, yet it turned out she was dying of lung cancer undiagnosed, unknown, untreated. Nobody checked. She is probably ready to die. Let her. Read published papers on-line -- feeding tubes are not recommended. Don't let your feelings get in the way of her feelings (yes, she has them). Death is natural.

Can a nursing home give a patient a feeding tube without consent?

Jun 17, 2014 · Feeding tubes are shown to often result in pain, heartburn, accidental inhalation of fluids and infections. Kasem’s wife claimed the decision to allow the suspension of these measures was an ...

Should tube feeding be banned in patients with progressive terminal illness?

Dec 12, 2018 · The only thing keeping them alive are their feeding tubes. ... families no longer need to embark on a legal process to stop life ... you …

Is a feeding tube considered life support?

A feeding tube is a kind of life-sustaining treatment used to give nutrition, medications, and fluids directly into the gastrointestinal tract when a person cannot eat enough or cannot eat safely due to swallowing problems.Jun 5, 2020

Is a feeding tube against DNR?

A DNR can be part of an advance directive. One's wishes regarding things like ventilation and feeding tubes can also be added to an advance directive. They are not specifically part of DNR.Jul 26, 2020

Can you take someone off a feeding tube?

This is both a legal and an ethical issue. It is required that doctors obey the law. The law of the State in which this patient's resides is that there must be clear and convincing evidence of the patient's wishes before life support can be removed from that patient.

How long can a person survive without a feeding tube?

According to rense.com, death from the removal of the feeding tube can be a “gentle death” or a “peaceful death.” Patients who have had their feeding tubes removed are expected to live just over 10 days.

What happens when you stop a feeding tube?

They may lose the ability to chew or swallow. They may be too weak to feed themselves. Other possible barriers include dentures that no longer fit and medication side effects that cause a sore mouth, constipation, and/or diarrhea.Jun 1, 1997

How long can you live on a ventilator and feeding tube?

People tend to stop breathing and die soon after a ventilator shuts off, though some do start breathing again on their own. If they are not taking in any fluids, they will usually die within several days of a feeding tube removal, though they may survive for as long as a week or two.Jul 28, 2021

How long can a person live on just IV fluids?

What happens if artificial hydration or nutrition are not given? People who don't receive any food or fluids will eventually fall into a deep sleep (coma) and usually die in 1 to 3 weeks.Jul 1, 2021

What happens when an elderly person stops eating?

An old, frail or ill person who stops taking in calories and fluids may only linger for a few days, gradually falling deeper and deeper into sleep. A person whose body is stronger may take two or even three weeks to deteriorate to the point of coma.

How many days can a human last without food?

An article in Archiv Fur Kriminologie states the body can survive for 8 to 21 days without food and water and up to two months if there's access to an adequate water intake. Modern-day hunger strikes have provided insight into starvation.

16 Answers

If she is still well enough to continue the feeding there are probably connections that lock in place. I don't know what they would be but there is always the old stand by duct tape.#N#Tube feeding is not without it's problems, it can be very uncomfortable especially if you wear something with a waist band.

Recent Questions

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Who is Cathy Rentzenbrink?

Cathy Rentzenbrink, whose brother spent eight years in a vegetative state before the courts permitted him to have all food and water withdrawn. Photograph: Peter Flude/The Guardian. Guidance on when to withdraw food and water welcomed by many families. But some fear the ethical implications.

Who is Cathy Rentzenbrink's brother?

Cathy Rentzenbrink and her brother Matthew as teenagers. Photograph: Cathy Rentzenbrink. Professor Lynne Turner-Stokes, who has managed patients in vegetative and minimally conscious states for the last 20 years and who was involved in producing the guidelines, acknowledges it’s a very difficult area.

How many people are in a vegetative state in the UK?

It is estimated that there are up to 16,000 patients in the UK in a vegetative state – where they are awake but show no signs of awareness – and perhaps three times that number in a minimally conscious state, where patients have clear but minimal awareness, such as occasionally being able to move a finger.

What is a feeding tube?

A feeding tube is an alternative to food and water for people who have difficulty swallowing or drinking. It’s a small plastic tube that directly delivers nutrients to the stomach through the nose, abdomen or small intestine.

How long do nasogastric tubes last?

These tubes tend to be used temporarily, usually for a few weeks, to help the patient “get over” a self-limited condition.

What is a J tube?

It is used for long-term tube feedings. A “J” (Jejunostomy) tube is a surgically placed feeding tube into the upper small intestine. It is for long-term use, usually in patients with poor stomach emptying issues.

Can you get hospice for inability to eat?

In most situations, the inability to eat marks the beginning of the “end-of-life” journey. If the patient has a terminal diagnosis, they may be eligible for hospice care. Hospice involves a team approach to decision-making and patient care.

What is the benefit vs. burden of the feeding tube?

Medical decisions are often driven by the benefit of an intervention compared to its burden. What makes tube feeding unique is that the benefit may be huge while the burden is typically small.

What is the purpose of the feeding tube?

Is it intended as treatment to allow for restoration of normal function?#N#Is it to delay death?#N#Is it to prolong life?

The Harmful Effects of Feeding Tubes

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When a stomach tube is implanted in an individual, it can cause serious, harmful effects. Only in recent years have medical studies started to address the emotional impact that feeding tubes have on patients. Residents may suffer from depression and anxiety when they receive feeding tubes. They can experience sadness in rea…
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Diminishing The Quality of Life For Patients

  • Patients may suffer from depression when they are unable to consume food in a normal manner due to feeding tubes. Some patients also become extremely self-conscious about the appearance of a feeding tube. Before you decide to proceed in allowing a loved one to receive a feeding tube, it is important that you assess the ways in which a feeding tube may impact his or her quality of …
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Going Against The Tenets of Medicine

  • Some doctors refuse to use feeding tubes at all costs possible. They may only resort to the use of feeding tubes when absolutely necessary. These medical professionals view the feeding tube as an intrusive and unnecessary measure. Nursing home facilities often have different reasons for proceeding with the use of feeding tubes. They may choose to use a feeding tube as a way to ex…
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