Jm. Riley et al., Factors related to adult patient decision making about withholding or withdrawing nutrition and/or hydration, ONL J K S N, 6(3), 1999, pp. NIL_1-NIL_4
(1) End-of-life decisions that focus on withholding or withdrawing nutritio
n and/or hydration present difficult choices at particularly vulnerable tim
es for patients and families. Clinical ethics studies published in the last
twenty years provide insight about the decision making process that can be
useful to all parties involved. The purpose of the systematic research rev
iew is to synthesize empirical data about patient/surrogate decision making
related to withholding or withdrawing nutritional sustenance toward the en
d of life, and contextual factors that influence their decision making. Fut
ure topics for clinical ethics research and clinical practice implications
are posed.