The Dilemma of Withholding or Withdrawing Nutrition

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Abstract
Recently, societal concerns have developed about the artificial prolongation of dying. Life extension is not always viewed as humanitarian. Artificial nutrition and hydration are seen frequently as necessary comfort measures and not merely life extenders. Now debate is rising about whether or not even these basic life support measures are not merely prolonging dying. In this paper, the issue ofwithholdingorwithdrawingnutrition and hydrationfrom certain patients is discussed, including the competing ethical arguments, the nursing perspective and the implications of this dilemma for nursing, health care and society.

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