ETHICAL REASONING CONCERNING THE FEEDING OF SEVERELY DEMENTED PATIENTS - AN INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVE

Structured interviews were held with 149 registered nurses in seven co untries in America, Asia, Australia and Europe concerning the feeding of severely demented patients who do not accept food. The most common reasons for nurses being willing to change their decision to feed or n ot to feed were an order from the medical head, a request from the pat ient's husband and/or the staff meeting. There was a connection betwee n the willingness to feed and the ranking of ethical principles. Nurse s who were most prone to feed the patient most often gave a high rank to the ethical principle of sanctity of life, while those who primaril y chose not to feed the patient gave a high rank to the ethical princi ple of autonomy. All nurses stressed the ethical principle of benefice nce.