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This session will discuss the ethical dilemmas involved in an advance directive that asks the provider to withhold food and fluid in patients with dementia. The presentation will focus on the dilemma of autonomy and the injustice inherent in a decision to implement or to refuse to implement the advance directive. A panel discussion by members of the Society Ethics Committee will follow.
Learning Objectives: (1) Discuss the concepts of Voluntarily Stopping Eating and Drinking (VSED) and Stopping Eating and Drinking by Advance Directives (SED by AD). (2) Describe the various ethical issues involved in implementing SED on a patient with advanced dementia. (3) Explain the difference between critical and experiential interests and how they contribute towards ethical decision making. (4) Appreciate the practical difficulties in implementing SED in the nursing home or assisted living setting.
