Abstract
Artificial nutrition has become a standard of care in some institutions. It is considered a way to provide nutrition to cognitively impaired individuals, regardless of prognosis. More than 216,000 feeding tubes were placed in 2000, and in 30% of such cases, the patient was demented [Geriatrics. 2006;61(5):30-35]. In this article, we present a case example as we examine the background and reasons for this practice. We also offer a method by which to evaluate and determine the medical and ethical appropriateness of artificial nutrition in each situation.