REHYDRATION OR DEHYDRATION

The ability of medicine to prolong human life through the use of sophi sticated technology has raised many ethical questions, notably those r elated to the issue of withholding or withdrawing nutrition and hydrat ion from certain patients. Health care professionals have begun debati ng what criteria should be applied when treating patients who are not able to choose for themselves. This review focuses on some of the dile mmas inherent in this issue.