Nourishment or Punishment: Nutrition support towards the end of life

Abstract

Artificial nutrition support during the end-of-life is deemed non-beneficial. Withholding nutrition when the patient is near death is a controversial and ethical dilemma that families and healthcare workers face.  For family, feeding is a source of showing love and affection to loved ones and it is distressing for them to see their loved one die painfully with hunger and thirst. Therefore, healthcare workers need to counsel families regarding the benefits and drawbacks of artificial nutrition toward the end of life. The family must be taught about alternative means of comfort for patients like mouth care, offering back massage, or moistening lips to interact with patients during end-of-life.