Appropriate feeding balances risk and quality of life.

摘要

Health-care professionals should establish multidisciplinary support teams to assess the nutritional needs of patients, concludes a Working Party report published by the UK Royal College of Physicians (RCP) on Jan 6,2010.The report, entitled Oral Feeding Difficulties, addresses the spectrum of cases for which artificial nutrition might be considered, and delineates the ethical and legal considerations that underpin this decision. It was occasioned, explains John Saunders (RCP, London, UK)-one of the coauthors-by "widespread uncertainty over when gastrostomy feeding is appropriate and when it should be avoided". This uncertainty is restricted to patients with cognitive impairment, a situation that is not usually a factor for cancer patients. But there are several unresolved issues associated with artificial nutrition and cancer.