"Tube Feeding" — Right or Wrong: The Medical, Legal and Ethical Issues

 

 

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(16) Comments have been made

2011 was a really trying year for me - my mother was admitted to the hospital on my birthday Jan. 10th and never returned home and passed on May 22, 2011. She was 75 y.o. and meanwhile I was home with my father who was 85 y.o. and he did okay for a couple of months - And then he did not want to eat his normal food or drink much. two e.r. visits - dehydration,uti and pressure sores. The last visit the doctor said he was severely malnutritioned and he lost so much muscle mass and his skin was paper thin. After speaking with the Nutritionist and doctor the plan was to try different diets to c how thing go - things did not go well - my sister and I decided on the PEG. Make sure you get all the information pertaining to the procedure - I was baffled to find out that this artificial feeding is all they get. After the procedure at the hospital - I saw the Nurse administered water and soft food by mouth. But when he went to the Nursing home he was not allowed nothing at all. I had a hard time with this Procedure and seeing how it wasn't helping - I wish he could of just died naturally - to me it was like forced feeding and with his dementia state of mine and no directive to make the decision it was sort of rough - I really think he wouldn't want it. A month later he expired and his suffering was over.

 

Jenni remember God made man theryby he made science , but he is the one and only creater of all and the last thing u loose is faith and miracles could happen and recoveries do occur, as well as wrongful diagnosis. I feel what u feel, but u may not be feeling what others feel,we must only learn to sympathize and pray to da lord that u r never face a situation like this and that if u do u r able to follow up with what u claim these people should have done and just let go of ur loved one. I feel because faith dies last, u might just sometime come across a situation where u just can't let go. prayers and think this over oh, and do a living will if u haven't cause those who love u may not think like u and could happen that they decide for u in case of an emergency.

 

My mother in law had a serious stroke 3 weeks ago, the specialist team looking after her care told the family there is no hope of rehabilitation, she is paralised on the right side can not talk or communicate, she is alive but not living so WHY was a peg fitted 3 days ago ? this is insane, why would a surgeon do this operation on a person who has such a sad future. She is being placed in a nursing home tomorrow and although the family are saying they will visit her often I cant help but be angry they have set there dearly loved mother up for a life of indignity and loneliness all because they could not let her go,this dear woman could live a long long time with the peg attached. Please people if you are faced with this situation be strong and let your loved one go.

 

I had a cancerous tonsil removed on 6/3/1 and started radiation two weeks later. The radiation has killed my salivary glands and, temporarily I hope, my taste buds. It has also made my throat so sore that swallowing anything, other than tiny sips of water, impossible. After lossing 40 pounds I went to the radiation nurse practicitioner and asked for a feeding tube. It was strongly discourage for some of the reasons listed here. In August, with my weight down over 50 pounds and three trips to the ER for dehydration and severe vomiting, I insisted on a feeding tube. It has been a month and it is a god-send. My weight has increased by a few pounds, my energy level is back and my clarity and demeanor are much improved. I'm 60 and in good health otherwise. I feed myself with clinical strength Ensure and keep the stoma site very clean. To me, the feeding tube has been a positive experience with a minimum amount of discomfort. The feeding and cleaning procedures are straightforward, simple and take only minutes. I sympathize with all who have had issue and wish you well.

 

I am 44 yrs old and was in a plane accident. A PEG was installed in me while was unaware. I spent three weeks unaware and heavily medicated. My recovery was faster than anticipated from head trauma, broken arem, burnt back, etc... For some strange reason I still lost twenty pounds and I extremely dislike the PEG now and want my life back as I'm getting better.

 

Hi, my mom passed away this year, March 24, two days later had to take my dad to walk in clinic, long story short, ended up in hospital, got discharged there about two weeks ago, ended up having small heart attach, first one massive, 20 years ago, broken heart, would have been married 60 years this July, about a month ago received the peg tube, my dad is 81, very tiny and skinny, on 8 hours of the day hooked up, many problems, accidents all the time, have 24 hour nurse on at home, pain, now on codeine, really has deteriorated since he has been discharged from hospital. We had no idea it would be so difficult on him as well as us. I highly recommend to think twice. We are only prolonging his unhappy life without his wife anymore, can't eat or drink by mouth, tied down to his bedroom 8 hours of the day, after he is disconnected from the machine, he's too tired to do anything, doesn't even get out of bed anymore, not fair. Don't do it under the same conditions as my father. his daughter

 

My Dad had a massive stroke three years ago and it affected his swallowing. My stepmother (who did not have the legal right as my brother and I have power of attorney) had them place a feeding tube rationalizing that it would only be temporary that he would get better. I've been a nurse for 30 years I saw the scan I knew he was not going to recover. He doesn't know who we are wxcept on very rare brief occasions his mind his fading fast due to the trauma from the stroke and alcoholic dementia. He gets beligerant, aggressive and combative at times. He's trapped in a body he can't use, he has right hemiplegia, and is incontinent of bowel and bladder. When my grandmother (his mother) had her stroke they put her feeding tube in and my Dad watched her have to live her last days the way she did and told me and my brother that he never wanted to live his last days like that. Well guess what, that's exactly where we are. Had I been at the hospital when the decsion was made I would have fought against tube placement. I am looking for a legal and ethical way to discontinue his feedings and water. Yes his heart and lungs are working just fine. He has to be sedated to sleep and combativeness. His left arm and leg can 'HIT' you just fine. He has to be given medication so he won't aspirate. But I know my Dad doesn't want to live this way. Anybody got any suggestions. my email is barbar1998@aol.com

 

We are going through a very difficult situation right now with my mother, she is 85 and a week ago had her second stroke. It is now very hard for her to swallow and she is not getting sufficient nutrition, she is bedridden however she can hear, assent sometimes, sporadically talk, reply to questions sometimes... but she is sort of "gone" most of the time. She had her first stroke five years ago, then was diagnosed with cancer about 18 months ago and underwent chemo with good response to her treament... and now this again. It is very hard to just not do anything and let her die when we could potentially help her, given that she is still partially with us. I know she understands that something is wrong with her... she loves life and it is very tough to just let her go. I wish she could tell us what to do.

 

After a knee amputation my mother who has dementia was unresponsive. I was against a feeding tube but my mother's doctor said gives her a chance, it was suppose to be temporary but it has been two years. Once it was in it was really hard to justifying removing it because before the amputation she refused to eat or take her medicine and was susceptible to bedsores. She still refuses but she does not get as many bedsores. I know the only reason she is here is the feeding tube. I feel guilty she is on it but I am glad she is here.

 

Hi I take care of a man who is 71 years old. He has had a peg for one year now due to a stoke. He can not talk, walk, move his arms or do anything for himself. It is so sad to see him in this state. Please do not start a peg since it is difficult to stop. This poor man's wife now feels like she has to continue or he will starve to death. Unfortunately, he is already dead since he has lost all ability to do anything including sharing his feelings. He is a prisoner of his own body. Basically, he is being forced to live. If your loved one is unable to ask for a feeding tube or peg, I highly recommend that you do not give it to them. Give them comfort care so that they may die in peace as God intended. We may feel that God has given us this ability to feed them but he has also given us the gift of death from the pain and suffering of this world. It is part of God's plan. Why should be question it? If you can decide to get it or not for your self, then by all means get it. You do need it if you can still communicate your need of nourishment. But please don't force food on anyone who has no life left in them. It is cruel and unusual punishment that is as bad as prison. I hope that my perspective can help someone out there in need at this critical time in their life. Remember that no one can avoid death and to talk to your loved one about these matters before a crisis hits. But if it hits and you haven't discussed it. Do the humane thing and let nature take it's course. It's ok and it's the way God intended it to be. God bless you always and give you peace.

 

My husband (61) suffered a stroke two weeks ago and is still in the ICU fighting pneumonia, and high blood pressure, breathing, infection, and swallowing issues. The medical staff at the hospital are pushing the feeding tube, have been since day one. I am very disturbed by their "rush to judgment", as they have not considered my husband, who has always said he does not want artificial means, feeding tubes EVER and a living will that says so. He has a feeding tube through the nose at present. Even with my husband indicating "no" the medical staff wants "to peg." The pressure is tremendous and I feel they are not listening to my husband, me or my children who feel so strongly that their Dad should have a say so in this. What happens if we PEG, and it doesn't work, inflicts further pain and we can't remove it?

 

We just made the decision to place a PEG into my dad today. I am torn with my decision. I have grave concerns. I am just praying that this will allow my dad to go home and be at peace. He does not have a living will so this decision was left up to me, his wife (remarried after my moms passing)and a dear cousin who is his caretaker. This is such a painful decision to have to make.

 

this is an extremely dangerous procedure for some patients and deaths as a result of it are being left unreported. I intend to attempt to change this status quo.

 

Very informative article.

 

Thank you for posting these articles about the PEG. I found them very helpful and insightful. We are facing the decision and don't know whether or not to have the tube removed from my 90 yr. old mother who got the PEG after having a stroke a year ago. Rehab was tough and unsuccessful. Before the stroke, she was still living independently and mentally sharp. Now she is completely bedridden, not yet fully demented--remembers family and things, has no interest in eating or in anything else, and is always in pain and medicated. It's painful to see what she's become, and we don't want her to suffer anymore.

 

i had cancer in my toncils and by radiation i cannot swallow. ihad a peg since 2003. i am no 59 years old. how long or great are my chances of keeping my peg at old age (about 80+) is there an alternative to this problem?