[A living will--autonomy in dementive states]

Demented patients may refuse to eat at the end of life. Many caregivers believe that food is as essential as air, and hence, tube feeding is as important as mechanical ventilation. Many believe that demented patients should be fed in any event, even against their will. The aim of this study was to assess the opinions of the elderly about tube feeding and advanced medical procedures in dementia. Inhabitants of protected homes, over 70 years of age, were asked to complete a questionnaire with demographic details, self-estimation, and self grading according to mobility, quality of life, function, pain, family and environmental support. They were asked what they consider to be a situation worse than death, and then, to grade their consent to life support procedures in the different stages of dementia: percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy, nasogastric tube, resuscitation, artificial respiration or surgery. They were also asked whether they want a living will for medical interventions in dementia for future guardian consideration. One hundred and twenty questionnaires were distributed and 61 were completed (compliance of 50.8%) including responses from 47 women (77%). The average age was 83 years. Most of the participants were women of European origin, not religious, executives with an average of 12 years of education. More than 70% of participants opposed life-supporting procedures in lower stages of dementia, and more than 80% in higher stages. Ninety-five percent of the participants believed in a living will that denied tube feeding and advanced therapies in dementia.