Advance Directive as Ulysses Contract: The Application of Stopping of Eating and Drinking by Advance Directive

Increased attention is being paid to "dementia directives," advance directives tailored to persons with dementia that outline what treatments an individual with dementia might wish to receive or forgo should they lose capacity. Particular focus has been placed on the request to have assist...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inAmerican journal of hospice & palliative medicine p. 1049909120912951
Main Authors Marks, Adam D, Ahronheim, Judith C
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 01.11.2020
Subjects
voluntary stopping of eating and drinking
Stopping of Eating and Drinking by Advance Directive
ethics
palliative care
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Summary:Increased attention is being paid to "dementia directives," advance directives tailored to persons with dementia that outline what treatments an individual with dementia might wish to receive or forgo should they lose capacity. Particular focus has been placed on the request to have assisted oral feedings withheld, the so-called Stopping of Eating and Drinking by Advance Directive (SED by AD), the purpose of which is to hasten death. This article reviews the available literature regarding the practice of SED by AD and explores the clinical and ethical aspects as they present at the bedside. Our review aims to show that practical, clinically applicable ways to approach such requests must be developed in order to balance the fundamental principles at play.
ISSN:1938-2715
DOI:10.1177/1049909120912951