I have a gentleman who can not eat without choking. One bite and he needs to be suctioned. He is alert and oriented and has signed for DNR, DNI, no IVs, no hospitalization, no artificial feeding. He knows if he doesn't eat, he will die and is ready for God to take him home (his words).
My speech therapist has written an order that he be supervised but not fed. She thinks if we feed him we are putting ourselves at risk since we know he's going to choke.
I say people have the right to self determination and he has decided.
Anyone want to weigh in on what you'd do in this situation?
Happy to hear he got his wish. Choking on honey thick pureed food is no way to live.
But we did have a similar case in which we had a resident who failed a Modified Barium Swallow evaluation miserably. They strongly recommended that she be kept NPO and wanted her family to consider a G-tube. They said absolutely not and wanted her kept on regular food even though she risked aspirating. Our speech therapists ordered a puree diet and 1-1 feed with the suction machine next to her. Thankfully we didn't need it. When I was working I would feed her myself with 1/3 teaspoonfuls for each bite. She did pretty well with that.
Forever Sunshine, ASN, RN
1,261 Posts
Happy to hear he got his wish. Choking on honey thick pureed food is no way to live.
But we did have a similar case in which we had a resident who failed a Modified Barium Swallow evaluation miserably. They strongly recommended that she be kept NPO and wanted her family to consider a G-tube. They said absolutely not and wanted her kept on regular food even though she risked aspirating. Our speech therapists ordered a puree diet and 1-1 feed with the suction machine next to her. Thankfully we didn't need it. When I was working I would feed her myself with 1/3 teaspoonfuls for each bite. She did pretty well with that.