Geriatric Quick Consult      PEG Tube Decisions      Don't #2

Don't suggest a "trial" of PEG feeding.

Knowledge Action
You may be asked by the family to consider a "trial" of tube feeding to see whether the patient "improves" with better nutrition.

While ethically there is no difference between withdrawing tube feeding and deciding not to initiate it in the first place, in practice it is very difficult to stop feeding once you have started and family members should be counseled about this.
  • Counsel family about the difficulty of stopping tube feeding.
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