Involvement of nurses in decision-making processes surrounding artificial food and fluid adminstration in peersons with dementia: an empirical-ethical study in Flemish hospitals.

Artificial food and fluid administration (AFFA) is one of the most frequently withheld life-sustaining treatments. It has been particularly vigorous with regard to patients with dementia. In an advance phase, this illness often brings serious eating problems, resulting in malnutrion and dehydration. A decision concerning AFFA can become necessary. Decisions about AFFA are emotionally complex and challenging for all parties involved. Nurses have a specific role in decision-making processes about artificial food and fluid administration. Nevertheless, nurses experience their role and responsibilities to be vaguely defined and their expertise is not always valued. The general aim of this project is to gain insight in the way how nurses can be supported in their involvement in decision-making processes dealing with AFFA in patients with dementia. We want to clarify the specific content of the nurses' role in Flanders (Belgium) - as experienced by them - in decision-making processes dealing with AFFA in patients with dementia.

Keywords:Nursing, Dementia, Artificial food and fluid administation, Ethics

Disciplines:Public health care