Question

A 76-year-old man with advanced vascular dementia and no family is admitted with pneumonia and severe dysphagia. He lacks capacity to consent to interventions and repeatedly pulls out nasogastric feeding tubes. You feel long-term artificial feeding will not improve quality of life. There is no advance decision. What is the most appropriate next step regarding decisions about his nutrition?

Accepted Answer

Make a best interests decision with the multidisciplinary team, considering his values and least restrictive options, and document this clearly

Answer

Ask the ward nurse in charge to make the decision

Answer

Apply to the Court of Protection routinely for all decisions

Answer

Continue to attempt nasogastric feeding because prolonging life always takes precedence

Answer

Ask an independent mental capacity advocate to take full legal responsibility for the decision

Practice question