Which Ethical Considerations Should Inform Hospice Decisions About Caring for Patients With Obesity?

Chithra R Perumalswami; Brycin D Hanslits; Susan D Goold

doi:10.1001/amajethics.2019.873

Which Ethical Considerations Should Inform Hospice Decisions About Caring for Patients With Obesity?

AMA J Ethics. 2019 Oct 1;21(10):E873-878. doi: 10.1001/amajethics.2019.873.

Authors

Chithra R Perumalswami¹, Brycin D Hanslits, Susan D Goold²

Affiliations

¹ A health services researcher and research fellow in the Center for Bioethics and Social Sciences in Medicine at the University of Michigan Medical School in Ann Arbor.
² A professor of internal medicine and health management and policy at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

PMID: 31651387
DOI: 10.1001/amajethics.2019.873

Abstract

Hospice and palliative care clinicians have the potential to advocate for high-quality medical care for patients with obesity. This article explores current evidence on obesity at the end of life and ethical questions that emerge when a decision is made to enroll a patient with obesity in hospice.

MeSH terms

Decision Making* / ethics
Health Priorities / ethics
Hospice Care / ethics*
Hospice Care / methods
Humans
Obesity / complications
Obesity / therapy*
Quality of Life
Resource Allocation / ethics
Resource Allocation / methods
Terminal Care / ethics
Terminal Care / methods