Geriatric Quick Consult PEG Tube Decisions Do #1
You, as the physician responsible for the patient's overall care, are in the best position to understand the overall prognosis of the patient and whether they can be expected to benefit from PEG placement.
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| Knowledge | Action |
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| A meeting with family members should be arranged to provide comprehensive information about the possible benefits and burdens of long term tube feeding.
This should be done as soon as possible as the family may need time to consider their decision, which may delay PEG placement and prolong hospital stay unnecessarily. Questions should be addressed and they should be encouraged to call you with further concerns. |
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| Considerable evidence suggests that tube placement in advanced dementia is futile and one may argue that offering a futile treatment is unethical.
However, the patient, or their surrogate decision-maker, has the right to be informed about all available treatments and to make the choice. Therefore, once they have expressed understanding of the information presented to them, it is important to support their decision to place a PEG even if you do not agree with it. |
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| If the family decides on PEG placement make sure they are aware of the consent process and will be available to sign the consent form.
Write the name and contact numbers of the person who is the designated decision-maker for the patient in the chart. |
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