Refusal to Eat in a Long-Term Care Facility

John is a 92-year-old who was recently admitted to a long-term care facility after being discharged from the hospital after a stay for pneumonia. He is nonverbally refusing meals, and with no obvious family members to relay his wishes, staff are finding it hard to determine what the next step should be in his care.

• What are the patient’s wishes and what is the evidence for that interpreted decision?
• What needs to happen in order for staff to respect his wishes?
• Why would they NOT respect his wishes?

Apply Theory (Specific Professional Healthcare Competencies + Clinical Medical Ethical Principles) to Practice in order to provide Optimal Patient-Centered Care (OPCC)