Patients being tube-fed 'to save time'
Patients are having their health put at risk by staff who feed them through tubes unnecessarily because they are too busy to help them eat normally, a report has warned
Putting a tube into the stomach to give nutrition artificially should be a last resort but busy hospital wards and care homes are using them inappropriately, the report from the Royal College of Physicians said.
Experts said that there could be a "hidden agenda" for fitting feeding tubes due to staffing issues and costs.
Care homes are refusing to take some patients without a tube in a widespread practice which was condemned by the working party who compiled new guidelines for clinicians.
Dementia patients are often tube fed but evidence has shown it does not prolong their life and may be harmful, the report said.
Dr John Saunders, co-chairman of the working party and experts in medical ethics, said: "In the demented patient it does not prolong life, the treatment is inappropriate and futile. It is actively unethical and dubious."
Abridged
SOURCE: The Telegraph, UK
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2 comments:
Fabulous!! As you say, they just need the chance to help or care elders - not only to others but also to themselves! Would be really interesting to get feedback from these old people .
I glimpse your post. It is so immense and of use for me. The unfairness against the elderly and people with physical disabilities should be prevent.
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