How would you feel about withdrawing nutrition from a dying patient?

Question

I heard a story about a woman who was basically brain dead, who was kept alive for 17 1/2 years in a nursing home because her husband kept her on a tube feeding instead of withdrawing care to let her die peacefully. He said he felt as if he took her off the feedings he'd be "starving" her. In my opinion, if someone is dying (or brain dead) and can't swallow or speak to communicate, there is no way I'd keep them "alive" that long. Honestly, people who are like that don't feel hunger so you really aren't starving them. Just wanted to see if anyone has a different opinion!

Answer

It's an easier decision to make in regards to someone you don't know and love. Not so easy when it's someone you've been close to for a long time and will always love dearly.

Answer

It's a difficult decision. I would like to think I would let go, but you never know until you're actually faced with the situation.

Answer

I would honestly hope and pray my husband would pull the plug in that situation. That's no quality of life at all. I'd rather he accept my fate and let me die.

Answer

This is why I have my end of life wishes, DNR and "in case of" instructions written up and finalized.

17.5 years is a huge drain on any health care system. At any point if they are showing no signs of recovery and are brain dead. Let them go.

Answer

I don't believe it's a humane way of letting someone die. If they're still alive and not brain dead, I have a hard time believing they don't feel themselves starving. I imagine it's not a quick process, either. There are better ways to let someone go. Starving, "withdrawing nutrition", however you want to put it... It just sounds horrible and of course no one wants their loved one to go that way. They're grieving and that takes years. Some people never get over their grief. This period is already hard enough and choosing to starve their loved one or keep them alive even though they're suffering is a cruel choice for anyone to make.

Answer

He must have had an extremely difficult time letting go of this woman he loved... often in times like these the heart and mind are not on the same page. We may know what is the right thing to do but can not bring ourselves to do it and sometimes it's hard to accept the reality of the situation. He cared for her in the way he felt was best.. maybe you or others disagree with it but this was his wife. My best friend became brain dead after a suicide attempt. We knew she was gone but it took her family some time to be able to say it was time to let her go and take her off of life support... her mother who was distraught with grief could not bring herself to just give up on her daughter even while fully being aware that she was gone and would never wake. Everyone handles these situation different.

Answer

This is why advanced directives are so important!

Answer

If I were in that situation I hope that my SO or whoever is in charge of my medical decisions would let me die. Quality of life is important and you shouldn't keep someone alive because you're too afraid to let them go. Sometimes the best thing you can do is to let them go on their own terms.

Answer

If you're brain dead you are pretty much dead, just cause your heart is beating doesn't mean you're alive...brain dead you have no thoughts, no brain activity and you can't come back from being totally brain dead so it's stupid to have kept her "alive" for 17 years omg.

Answer

If you were in that situation, you'd find the decision very hard. It's easy to assume what you'd do if it's not your loved one.

How would you feel about withdrawing nutrition from a dying patient?

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