Artificial Nutrition and Hydration: The Ethics-Evidence Disconnect

This is the fourth Exploring Ethics talk of the 2018-2019 academic year.

Artificial nutrition and hydration (ANH) as treatment for patients with terminal illness and/or advanced dementia has undergone important changes in the past 40 years. Following initial debate as to whether ANH could ethically be withheld, evidence accumulated to demonstrate that ANH in these conditions did not prolong life and often led to harmful side effects. Despite this, a new wave of demand for ANH followed the Schiavo case in 2003. Barriers to the refusal of ANH currently exist for patients, physicians, and facility administrators.