Do you think an elderly person who can no longer eat or drink should be force fed?

Question

Grandma is 80 years old and is refusing to eat, so the family comes along and decides to put in a peg tube for feeding, so grandma has this tube surgically placed in her belly and is fed forumula thru a tube in her stomach. Do you think this is cruel and un natural or would you do it to your family member? Most people when they are elderly and quit eating are trying to go thru the natural process of aging and eventually death. Its not uncomfortable to die this way. Its becomes uncomfrotable when the tube is surgically placed for feeding, then comes the diarrhea from the tube feeding, and the intolerance of the feeding which causes these pts to bloat and become nauseated. Tell me what you think?
The physician said the feedings were intended to get pts over the hump, not sustain their life when they are old because they will not eat. Not eating is a natural process of aging. Would you like to be force fed thru a tube in your stomach. Have you ever been force fed? How does it feel?

Answer 1

I wouldn't want to be on a feeding tube ... and I wouldn't want my children or grandchildren to see me in that condition.

I watched both great grandparents pass away, in the home, with hospice and it was a little more comforting then seeing them with tubes, machines and crap all over the place.

Answer 2

Yes I would do it in a heart beat!! The tube does not have to be put in their stomach either. There are times when that person is just going threw depression and don't want to eat and so there for it has to be done. Even young people have to be done this way or some one that has been in a accident that can't feed their self. There is not a thing wrong with it being done. It might be all they need to get them over that hump to get them on the road to recovery. All the side effects that you named off are the worst things that can possibly happen, it is not really as bad as you are making it sound. I would do it to my parents in a heart beat. I also would hope that someone would do it for me as well.

Answer 3

If possible, this issue should be address with a person before the time to make the decision comes...such as, my mother will be 70 this year, but she told me years ago she doesn't want a feeding tube if it comes to that...she has a living will that states it...

It's tough to make the decision to allow your loved one to starve to death, even if their passing is best because their quality of life is so poor...but many states won't allow it without a living will, and there may be some that won't allow it at all (I don't know)...

I don't believe I'd care for my life to be maintained in that way, unless there was a pretty darned good chance I would recover enough to eat on my own again someday...

Answer 4

I think if the person is of competent mind, then no I don't think they should be. I can understand why the family would want to intervene, though. No ome wants to watch a family member die when they think they can do something about it. I guess the way I look at it is, an 80 year old who is of sound mind and body shouldn't have something forced on them that they don't want. She should be able to refuse medical treatment. I guess you just have to think about what she wants or would want.

Answer 5

I can only speak for myself, and I certainly would not want to be kept alive that way. I want "quality" of life, not "quantity". If I get old, and can't eat and take care of myself, I have told my children to not postpone my death. I have lived a good life, enjoyed it for the most part, and I would like to die with dignity and respect!

Answer 6

Well I think if she refuses to eat because she rather not than respect her wishes if its becauses she cant its okay BUT if your forcing her to be fed how will she think about that if she really doesnt want to

Answer 7

if she is of sound mind i think she has a right not to eat. It sounds like she could be depressed, if so she needs help.