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Saturday, June 1, 2013

Toronto Hospital Dehydrating Children to Death, Says Quality of Life Too Low


by Alex Schadenberg 

The following article represents a synthesis of the findings, with commentary by myself about the study: Parental Perceptions of Forgoing Artificial Nutrition and Hydration (FANH) During End-of-Life Care

The first part of the article is a synthesis of the study, while the second part of the article is my commentary about the findings in the study.
A study entitled: Parental Perceptions of Forgoing Artificial Nutrition and Hydration (FANH) During End-of-Life Care was published in the Journal Pediatrics in its May 5, 2013 edition concerning the reactions of parents to the experience of withdrawing nutrition and hydration (FANH) from a child who was dying or experiencing a low quality of life at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto.

The study is based on independent interviews with parents after the child died.

The study sought input from twelve families of children who died after FANH. Three families were not interested in participating in the study and three families could not be reached. A total of eleven parents from six families participated in the study. One family had two children who died after FANH. Six children died after ANH was withdrawn, while one child died after ANH was withheld.
Two of the children died before the third month of life, two of the children died after the third month but before the sixth month of life and 3 children died at age 14 or 15. Participation in the study was based on parents who were 18 years or older, who lived within 125 miles of the hospital and were fluent in English. The study first defined the practice of FANH.

ANH is defined by the Hospital for Sick Children as a life-sustaining treatment that is provided by naso gastric, or gastric tubes. ANH is provided when children cannot meet their dietary requirements or when it becomes unsafe to do so.






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