Ethical and legal considerations in the provision of nutritional support to the perioperative patient

Despite the extensive current literature on ethics, very few publications have specifically addressed the ethical issues surrounding the provision of nutrition to perioperative patients. Four publications are particularly relevant and highly recommended [1-4]. This review is an attempt to draw attention to those ethical issues that are relevant to the use of nutritional support in the perioperative patient and offer guidance on appropriate action by clinicians. Emphasis is on adult patients rather than children and not on the issues that surround the terminally ill patient. General principles are discussed first and then the application of these principles.