Can a physician appointed surrogate speak for the patient with regard to withholding artificial nutrition and hydration?
A physician-appointed surrogate may not make the decision to withhold artificial nutrition and hydration with only the surrogate decision. But, when the designated physician and a second independent physician certify in the patient’s current clinical records that the continuation of artificial nutrition or hydration is merely prolonging the act of dying, and the patient is highly unlikely to regain capacity to make medical decisions, then artificial nutrition and hydration can be withheld.
Related Questions
- Can a physician appointed surrogate speak for the patient with regard to withholding artificial nutrition and hydration?
- What are the Legal requirements for withholding or withdrawing artificial hydration and nutrition (e.g. feeding tubes)?
- Isn t it wrong to starve someone to death by withholding artificial nutrition and hydration?
