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Dehydration: burden or benefit to the dying patient?
Author(s) -
Sutcliffe Jayne,
Holmes Susan
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
journal of advanced nursing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.948
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 1365-2648
pISSN - 0309-2402
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2648.1994.tb01053.x
Subject(s) - medicine , context (archaeology) , distress , distressing , intensive care medicine , palliative care , quality of life (healthcare) , cancer , nursing , clinical psychology , paleontology , chemistry , biology
Significant numbers of patients die each year from malignant disease. The question of whether or not to administer artificial hydration therapy to the patient who is in the last few days of life has been discussed for some time. Some health care professionals contend that a reduced fluid intake, which often accompanies the dying process, may result in a potentially painful and distressing state of dehydration, requiring preventative measures of fluid replacement therapy. In contrast, other clinicians suggest that artificial hydration is often of no proven benefit in the context of the dying and may impose additional physical and psychological burdens on the patient. This paper investigates the advantages and disadvantages of artificial hydration therapies in terms of the symptom distress experienced by the terminally ill cancer patient. Its aim is to promote discussion about this vital aspect of patient care.