Anorexics - Force Feeding?

[Skillet]

Do you think it is justified to force feed anorexics? Why or why not?



Discuss, and then I'll put in my two cents.

 

[Nebulous's iconNebulous]

No.. Its not ethical to force anyone to do anything.

 

[Skillet]

So it's fine to let them die? What if they need medical help? Or food to survive? I hate to push the Euthanasia thing, but didn't you say it was wrong to pull the plug? You're forcing them to live..



But back on topic..



Don't doctors have the legal responsibility to do all they can to keep a patient alive? What if feeding them will help them live?

 

[Nebulous's iconNebulous]

You cant force food down someone's throat.. What are you going to do hold them down and cram food in their mouth?

 

[Skillet]

Do you think it is the doctors responsibility to do EVERYTHING in their power to keep a patient alive? Yes or no?

 

[Nebulous's iconNebulous]

A doctor wont do that. They will hook them up to an IV that injects sustenance into their body.

 

[Skillet]

Which is essentially force feeding. Do you think the anorexics want to be hooked up?



It seems we sort of agree, but neither of us were clear on the actual definition of feeding. Force feeding doesn't just have to be food shoved down the throat.

 

[Nebulous's iconNebulous]

If they are at the point to where they are about to die from being too skinny.. Hooking them up to an IV wont do them any good though. Too little too late,

 

[Alien]

You can tube feed an anorexic (I recently read a book about an anorexic who had to get tube fed a lot, often under sedation)

But forcing an anorexic to put weight back on will not cure the underlying problem, far from it.

 

[Kaczynski]

Anorexia is mainly in the mind. And force feeding won't help unless they're sticking a needle in you...you'll just turn bulimic. No better. You can feed an anorexic but they'll only eat when you force them to. What is better is to provide therapy and lots of psychological help, so that they don't think in such a way.



Yes, anorexics should be kept alive until they can be convinced that their view of themselves is warped, it's not like in a completely normal state of mind, one would reject food when they need it.

 

[Kasynlie]

The anorexics needs to decide for themselves if they should be eating or not. I'm sure they are mature enough to admit that they are unhealthy and should accept any help that comes their way.

 

[Skillet]

The anorexics needs to decide for themselves if they should be eating or not. I'm sure they are mature enough to admit that they are unhealthy and should accept any help that comes their way.

That IS the problem with many diseases, like this. They can't admit they need help. They keep looking in the mirror, and seeing something they're not.

 

[Alien]

Losing weight and exercising can be like an addiction. It's in the mind for sure but it's a really tough cycle to break.

 

[Bluezone777]

The anorexics needs to decide for themselves if they should be eating or not. I'm sure they are mature enough to admit that they are unhealthy and should accept any help that comes their way.

The thing is they are blind as to the problem they are facing. They see a fat person every time they look at themselves no matter how thin they really are.



It's like asking someone to close their eyes and read what everyone has posted in this thread. No matter how smart or mature you are, it can't be done because you can't read text on a screen that you can't see.

 

[xneseyx]

I think it's the doctor's responsibility to do all he can up to a point. it's true that you can't force food down someone's throat. and what if someone signs a DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) form? what if they don't want to live?