To What Extent Does Clinically Assisted Nutrition and Hydration Have a Role in the Care of Dying People?

The ethics of clinically assisted nutrition and hydration in adults and the role of the advanced clinical practitioner

Clinically assisted nutrition and hydration (CANH) decision-making in adult patients presents complex ethical dilemmas that require careful consideration and navigation. This clinical review addresses the multifaceted aspects of CANH, emphasising the importance of ethical frameworks and the role of advanced clinical practitioners (ACPs) in guiding decision-making processes. The pivotal role of ACPs is highlighted, from their responsibilities and challenges in decision-making to the collaborative approach they facilitate involving patients, families and multidisciplinary teams. The article also explores ethical principles such as autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice, elucidating their application in CANH decision-making. Legal and ethical frameworks covering CANH are examined, alongside case studies illustrating ethical dilemmas and resolutions. Patient-centred approaches to CANH decision-making are discussed, emphasising effective communication and consideration of cultural and religious beliefs. End-of-life considerations and palliative care in CANH are also examined, including the transition to palliative care and ethical considerations in withdrawal or withholding of CANH. Future directions for research and implications for clinical practice are outlined, highlighting the need for ongoing ethical reflection and the integration of ACPs in CANH decision-making.

Resources to Support Decision-Making Regarding End-of-Life Nutrition Care in Long-Term Care: A Scoping Review

Resources are needed to aid healthcare providers and families in making end-of-life nutrition care decisions for residents living in long-term care settings. This scoping review aimed to explore what is reported in the literature about resources to support decision-making at the end of life in long-term care. Four databases were searched for research published from 2003 to June 2023. Articles included peer-reviewed human studies published in the English language that reported resources to support decision-making about end-of-life nutrition in long-term care settings. In total, 15 articles were included. Thematic analysis of the articles generated five themes: conversations about care, evidence-based decision-making, a need for multidisciplinary perspectives, honouring residents' goals of care, and cultural considerations for adapting resources. Multidisciplinary care teams supporting residents and their families during the end of life can benefit from resources to support discussion and facilitate decision-making.

A Narrative Review: Analysis of Supplemental Parenteral Nutrition in Adults at the End of Life

"End of life" is a stage defined by the existence of an irreversible prognosis that ends with a person's death. One of the aspects of interest regarding end of life focuses on parenteral nutrition, which is usually administered in order to avoid malnutrition and associated complications. However, parenteral nutrition can be adapted to specific circumstances and evolve in its functionality through supplementation with certain nutrients that can have a beneficial effect. This narrative review aims to carry out a situation analysis of the role that could be adopted by supplemental parenteral nutrition in attenuating alterations typical of end of life and potential improvement in quality of life.

Perceptions and Knowledge Regarding Medical Situations at the End of Life among Older Adults in Switzerland

Background: Perceptions and knowledge regarding end-of-life health and health care can influence individuals' advance care planning, such as the completion and content of advance directives. Objectives: To assess older adults' perceptions of medical end-of-life situations in Switzerland along with their accuracy and corresponding associations with sociodemographic characteristics. Design: This is an observational study. Setting/study subjects: A nationally representative sample of adults aged 58 years and older who participated in wave 8 (2019/2020) of the Swiss part of the Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe (cooperation rate: 94.3%). Measurements: Subjective likelihood of 11 end-of-life situations on a 4-point scale: very unlikely (0-25%), rather unlikely (26%-50%), rather likely (51%-75%), and very likely (76%-100%). Results: Older adults' perceptions of end-of-life medical situations in Switzerland were rather heterogeneous and often inaccurate. Study subjects overestimated the success of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, the utility of a fourth-line chemotherapy, of hospital admission for pneumonia for patients with advanced dementia, and for artificial nutrition and hydration in the dying phase, while underestimating the effectiveness of pain management in this situation. Less than 28% of older adults correctly assessed the likelihood of dying in a nursing home, hospital, or at home, respectively. Inaccurate views were more frequent in men (p < 0.01) and individuals with financial difficulties (p < 0.05), whereas adults aged 75+ years (p < 0.01) and respondents from the German-speaking part of Switzerland (p < 0.01) had more accurate perceptions. Conclusions: The wide variation and low accuracy of end-of-life perceptions suggest considerable scope for communication interventions about the reality of end-of-life health and health care in Switzerland.

Eating, Drinking, and Swallowing Difficulties: The Impacts on, and of, Religious Beliefs

Eating, drinking, and swallowing (EDS) are fundamental to the biomechanical model of the body. They are the processes by which the body obtains fuel essential for existence but are so much more than this mere function. What, when, and how we eat, with whom, even what we do not eat, and when we do not eat, are not physiological restrictions. The Equality Act 2010 prohibits discrimination of patients based on a list of protected characteristics, including religion. There is a paucity of literature addressing religion and EDS issues despite most religions having laws regarding food sourcing, preparation, consumption, and fasting. The diverse perspectives of our patients may influence engagement with services unless we appreciate the significance of the interplay of EDS and religious belief. Our paper addresses religion and EDS with a focus on the activities that lead up to food or drink consumption. Religion, as with many important aspects of humanity, is a highly individual experience. Thus, we need to establish what is important to each person that we deal with, whilst using general knowledge of a religion to guide us. An informed multidisciplinary team including stakeholders from chaplaincy services is critical for optimal patient care.

Treatment withdrawal of the patient on end of life: An analysis of values, ethics and guidelines in palliative care

AIM

Family surrogate decision-making during the later stage of a patient's life may sometimes result in conflict and emotional distress among the parties involved. The present article aims to promote ethical end-of-life decision-making among healthcare professionals in a view to eliminating any misunderstanding that may arise while meeting the care needs of the patient.

DESIGN

A case study involving a request for treatment withdrawal by the family of a patient on end of life.

METHODS

This paper draws upon a scenario encountered during practice to analyse the moral commitments in delivering high-quality end-of-life care with much emphasis on pre-existing palliative care guidelines for adults.

RESULTS

Healthcare professionals are bound by the principle of beneficence, non-maleficence, autonomy and justice. Although the use of guidelines may be tenable, decisions often take into consideration the patient's choice and then weighed against the moral values of healthcare specialists and those required in the profession.