Deaths after feeding tube withdrawal from patients in vegetative and minimally conscious states: a qualitative study of family experience

Kitzinger, Jenny ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2593-8033 and Kitzinger, Celia 2018. Deaths after feeding tube withdrawal from patients in vegetative and minimally conscious states: a qualitative study of family experience. Palliative Medicine 32 (7) , pp. 1180-1188. 10.1177/0269216318766430

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Abstract

Background: Families of patients in vegetative or minimally conscious states are often horrified by the suggestion of withdrawing a feeding tube, even when they believe that their relative would not have wanted to be maintained in their current condition. Very little is known about what it is like to witness such a death. Aim: To understand these families’ experience of their relative’s deaths. Design: Qualitative study using in-depth narrative interviews analysed inductively with thematic analysis. Participants: Twenty-one people (from 12 families) whose vegetative or minimally conscious relative died following court-authorised withdrawal of artificial nutrition and hydration. All had supported treatment-withdrawal. Findings: Interviewees were usually anxious in advance about the nature of the death and had sometimes confronted resistance from, and been provided with misinformation by, healthcare staff in long-term care settings. However, they overwhelmingly described deaths as peaceful and sometimes even as a ‘good death’. There was (for some) a significant ‘burden of witness’ associated with the length of time it took the person to die and/or distressing changes in their appearance. Most continued to voice ethical objections to the manner of death while considering it ‘the least worst’ option in the circumstances. Conclusions: Staff need to be aware of the distinctive issues around care for this patient group and their families. It’s important to challenge misinformation and initiate honest discussions about feeding-tube withdrawal and end-of-life care for these patients. Families (and staff) need better support in managing the ‘burden of witness’ associated with these deaths.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Journalism, Media and Culture
Publisher:	SAGE Publications
ISSN:	0269-2163
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	9 March 2018
Date of Acceptance:	12 February 2018
Last Modified:	05 May 2023 03:09
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/109788

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