Forced feeding for anorexic patient?

Published: April 30, 1993
Abstract Views: 170
PDF (Italiano): 0
Publisher's note
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

Authors

The Authors study the case of M.A., an 18 year old anorexic giri who, once hospitalized, refused to be treated. During an episode when she lost consciousness, the physicians decided to begin to not only treat her, but also to supply her with enteral feedings by a naso-gasric tube. This case raises numerous ethical and legai questions that are relevant to medical practice: when faced with risking on a life, does the patient have the right not to accept treatment? What respect should a patient with this disease be given? Can the physicians make the decision to force feed the patient even when there is an explicit refusal? The answers come from the ethical and legal evaluation of the conflict between the patient's right to decide about his/her own life and health, and the phisician's right and duty to safeguard the physical life of the patient.

Dimensions

Altmetric

PlumX Metrics

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Citations

How to Cite

Di Pietro, M. L., Conte, G., Lucattini, A., & Spagnolo, A. G. (1993). Forced feeding for anorexic patient?. Medicina E Morale, 42(2), 381–398. https://doi.org/10.4081/mem.1993.1061