Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Principle-based ethics and nurses' attitudes towards artificial feeding

L Day1, T Drought, A J Davis

  • 1Neurological Intensive Care Unit, University of California, USA.

Journal of Advanced Nursing
|February 1, 1995
PubMed
Summary

Nurses

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Enzyme super-dosage mitigates growth impairment in broilers fed high levels of <i>Chlorella vulgaris</i> and improves meat fatty acid composition.

British poultry science·2026
Same author

The High-Energy Ion Telescope (HIT) for the Interstellar Mapping And Acceleration Probe (IMAP) Mission.

Space science reviews·2026
Same author

High inclusion of <i>Chlorella vulgaris</i> in broiler diets improves feed efficiency and liver n‑3 fatty acid profile: effects of extrusion and enzyme super-dosing.

British poultry science·2026
Same author

High dietary inclusion of Chlorella vulgaris with extrusion or enzyme superdosing: Effects on broiler performance, welfare, and meat quality.

Poultry science·2025
Same author

First report of a Sporidesmin Toxicity (Facial Eczema) outbreak in a South African dairy herd.

Journal of the South African Veterinary Association·2025
Same author

Reliable long-term individual variation in wild chimpanzee technological efficiency.

Nature human behaviour·2024

Area of Science:

  • Medical Ethics
  • Nursing Practice
  • Bioethics

Background:

  • Artificial nutrition and hydration (ANH) are critical interventions for patients unable to feed themselves.
  • Legal and ethical debates surround the withholding or withdrawal of ANH.
  • Nurses play a key role in implementing and managing ANH, influencing patient care decisions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the ethical justifications nurses use when deciding to withhold or withdraw artificial nutrition and hydration (ANH).
  • To understand the ethical principles guiding nurses' decisions regarding ANH in critical care scenarios.

Main Methods:

  • Structured interviews were conducted with 80 nurses (40 cancer care, 40 dementia care) across two sites each.
  • Interviews utilized two vignettes depicting patients with terminal cancer and end-stage Alzheimer's dementia.
  • Qualitative thematic analysis focused on principles of deontological ethics.

Main Results:

  • Nurses' decisions regarding ANH were primarily guided by ethical principles of autonomy, beneficence, and non-maleficence.
  • Autonomy was particularly relevant when patients expressed refusal or prior indications of refusal for ANH.
  • Beneficence and non-maleficence informed decisions aimed at preventing suffering and promoting patient well-being.

Conclusions:

  • Nurses integrate core ethical principles into complex decisions about artificial feeding.
  • Understanding these ethical frameworks is crucial for developing supportive policies and education for nurses.
  • The findings highlight the nuanced ethical reasoning involved in ANH decisions in clinical practice.
Keywords:
Death and EuthanasiaEmpirical Approach

Related Experiment Videos