Principles of nutrition in the palliation of long-term conditions

Palliative care, directed toward alleviating symptoms and improving quality of life, should be available to all those with chronic or incurable illness. Good nutrition is central to such care meeting patients' physical requirements and psychosocial needs, thus helping them to maintain a sense of autonomy and normality while also promoting psychological comfort, communication, and social interaction. Many patients receiving palliative care experience difficulties in maintaining an appropriate food intake, which presents many challenges for practitioners and requires an understanding of both nutrition and patient needs. This article describes the types of nutritional support that are available in the palliative care setting, as well as important ethical factors relevant to considerations of starting and withdrawing artificial nutrition.