Recent Study Shows Feeding Tubes May Be Overused in Persons With Dementia
Posted by BSadmin - 12/02/10 at 03:02 pmA recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that feeding tubes were overused in persons with advanced dementia. The study authors found feeding tubes were used even when someone had specified in writing that he did not want a feeding tube. Persons with advanced dementia are often given feeding tubes when they can no longer swallow, although according to the study’s authors, medical literature suggests the feeding tube does not extend survival or offer any other benefit to the patient.
Feeding tubes may be overused for economic reasons. Feeding tubes are often placed when a person with advanced dementia is hospitalized. For profit and large hospitals are more likely to insert feeding tubes, which allow the hospital to discharge the patient back to the nursing home more quickly. Nursing homes may encourage the use of feeding tubes because it requires less staff time and effort than the careful hand feeding needed for someone with advanced dementia. An article on the study is available at: Feeding Tubes May Be Overused in Demented Patients
If you or someone you know has been harmed by neglect or abuse in a nursing home, you may contact Ben Gideon at bgideon@bermansimmons.com