Nurses' Experiences with Hospice Patients Who Refuse Food and Fluids to Hasten Death

In Oregon, 102 hospice nurses reported having cared for a patient who decided to stop eating and drinking, usually because the patient was ready to die. Most of these patients died within 15 days, and most died without excess suffering. Most patients died within 15 days and without excess suffering. Studies of terminally ill patients show that a small proportion of them would choose physician-assisted suicide or euthanasia for reasons of hopelessness, depression, feeling unappreciated, a sense of the meaninglessness of continued existence, readiness to die, and fear of loss of independence and control. 1 – 9 Because physician-assisted death is not available to most terminally ill patients, some medical experts have suggested voluntary refusal of food and fluids as an alternative. 10 – 13 Unlike physician-assisted suicide, the choice to stop eating and drinking is legal throughout the United States, available to competent patients, and does not necessarily require the participation of a . . .