Tube Feeding Question and Obituary Research Paper

Tube Feeding Question and Obituary - Research Paper Example The research paper "Tube Feeding Question and Obituary" talks about the educated response to the tube-feeding question. The patient’s condition is terminal and she has not shown any sign of relieving symptoms. Even though feeding tube is able to prolong the patient’s life, you should not put the patient on the artificial feeding because of the involved risks of using feeding tube and benefits of allowing the patient to die a natural death. Moral and clinical factors inform this position. Ethically and as the authority over the patient who is already confused and disoriented, you need to minimize pain to the patient, to yourself, and to the children. The death of the patient is evident and the associated pain will be felt, regardless of the time at which the patient dies. Life of the patient should not be the primary factor in the decision. Deciding not to use the feeding tube only amounts to allowing the natural death process and not contributing to the patient’s death. A legal consideration also allows for the withholding of feeding tube and this also justifies the proposed decision. Even though failure to use feeding tube may induce pain to the patient, owing to the fact that she is able to respond to her environment, the level of pain can be managed. Using the tube may prolong the patient’s life but it has many disadvantages, some of which could end the patient’s life and render the tube effort useless. The patient will likely suffer from chest congestion and fluid buildup in her throat.