Should the medical profession force-feed anorexics as part of their treatment?

[woody92]

Should the medical profession force-feed anorexics as part of their treatment?

This question is just out of Intrest! I was wondering what everyone thinks of this.
I am not sure at the moment! I need to be convinced i could go either side of the debate! IDK!!! :)
Weird I know, sorry!!

[Whisper]

If you mean strapped to a chair with a tube down their throat then absolutly not.
That would go very bad very fast, the suicide rate in institutions would sky rocket.
If you want to help someone with their battle it has to be a very supportive and structured environment
you need to have the trust to help them understand and heal
you wont get that with force feeding

[Mental]

If they're on the brink of death - absolutely.
Also anorexics aren't mentally sound as far as their condition goes, so they don't generally have the mental capacity to be trusted to eat. However, I only think force-feeding should be used when absolutely neccesary, like when the person is fatally underweight and still refusing to eat. Not as part of the healing process at all.

The duty of the law is to protect life. That's why you can't die when you want (via euthanasia or suicide), why murder is a crime, and so on.

[woody92]

If they're on the brink of death - absolutely.
Also anorexics aren't mentally sound as far as their condition goes, so they don't generally have the mental capacity to be trusted to eat. However, I only think force-feeding should be used when absolutely neccesary, like when the person is fatally underweight and still refusing to eat. Not as part of the healing process at all.

The duty of the law is to protect life. That's why you can't die when you want (via euthanasia or suicide), why murder is a crime, and so on.

I dont know if you know but in some countries around the world it is possible to commit suicide. HERE IS A LINK (http://www.assistedsuicide.org/suicide_laws.html)

[Mental]

I do know that, but in most countries it's not, such as the UK and USA. Just like euthanasia is legal in some part of Europe (I think it's Sweden or Switzerland) and I think Oregon State USA. But mostly it's not and many countries have policies and such that are there to protect life at all costs, and I agree with it.

[woody92]

I think that its not a good thing that if you want to commit assited suicide BUT I know that if i was in pain day in and day out I would want it all to end so in some respects i suport it but in some I dont! I think there should be physiological tests to see if the person is realy willing to do it or not and to see if they are doing it for the right reasons or not!

I have been thinking about force-feeding people as part of their treatment and I think that it should be used as you (metal) said. I think that it should be used if they were on the brink of death through not eating!
thanks for your replies!:D

[deadpie]

when i was in the hospital, anyone that was anorexic would go a level down for not eating one meal, or not having their plate full. This girl did have some food one time, but apparently it wasn't enough. It's rude to do that to someone that's anorexic.

[Asylum]

i say no force feeding....

[woody92]

i say no force feeding....

Do you have reasons for this? ((Its just so everbody know why you feel this way sorry))

[Mental]

i say no force feeding....
Why not, exactly? What if the person's life is at risk?

[Rainstorm]

Why not, exactly? What if the person's life is at risk?

If you're forcing someone who doesn't want to eat to eat, that only creates even more resentment and anger.

[2D]

If you're forcing someone who doesn't want to eat to eat, that only creates even more resentment and anger.

I'd rather be pissed than dead.

[Mental]

If you're forcing someone who doesn't want to eat to eat, that only creates even more resentment and anger.
On the brink of death, such procedure is neccesary. I don't believe in force-feeding people who are willing to change. But people who are severely anorexic and are refusing to eat are dying in the process, and as anorexia is a mental disorder, they must be stopped.

That's why you aren't "allowed" to decide to jump off a building - they send the Police/Paramedics/a negotiator to stop you if they can get there in time. Yeah, most of these people will be pissed when they're stopped, but once they recover, they'll be thankful. Same with anorexics.

[woody92]

I'd rather be pissed than dead.

I have been "dead" for about 10 to 20 mins but they resuscitated me and I agree that its better to be alive and "pissed" than dead LOL!!

On the brink of death, such procedure is neccesary. I don't believe in force-feeding people who are willing to change. But people who are severely anorexic and are refusing to eat are dying in the process, and as anorexia is a mental disorder, they must be stopped.

That's why you aren't "allowed" to decide to jump off a building - they send the Police/Paramedics/a negotiator to stop you if they can get there in time. Yeah, most of these people will be pissed when they're stopped, but once they recover, they'll be thankful. Same with anorexics.

I think thats a very good explanation of why it should be alowed if really really necesary!

[Triceratops]

An anorexic is under extreme harm psychologically, as well as physically. They're going to hate being put under this kind of treatment no matter what, since the damage that's been done mentally has convinced them that force-feeding is somewhat cruel and that they will need to resist. If force-feeding is something that will rescue them from death, then so be it. Someone who is suffering from a dangerous mental illness is in no position to decide whether or not a medical professional should make them undergo this type of treatment, because anorexia would have distorted their own views on what's best for them.

i say no force feeding....

Wonderful reasoning. Your argument has just fascinated me so much - so much that I would love to hear your elaboration once again. >__>

If they're on the brink of death - absolutely.
Also anorexics aren't mentally sound as far as their condition goes, so they don't generally have the mental capacity to be trusted to eat. However, I only think force-feeding should be used when absolutely neccesary, like when the person is fatally underweight and still refusing to eat. Not as part of the healing process at all.

The duty of the law is to protect life. That's why you can't die when you want (via euthanasia or suicide), why murder is a crime, and so on.

QFT!

[Harley Quinn]

i say no force feeding....

Do you have a reason...or just stating?
------------

Anyways, no i don't think they should because tbh I don't think it will work in the long run. It will keep them alive but it won't help the actual problem. Just because you're feeding them to stay alive doesn't mean it helps the actual person. Sure you're feeding them but that doesn't mean they won't still have the fear of food or the weight they gain. Yes in extreme where the person is dangerously thin sure feed them, but this can cause problem and such. If the patient is dangerously thin and is then force-fed, it can led to Hypophosphataemia (reduction of phosphates in the blood) which causes heart failure. Clicky (http://www.idebate.org/debatabase/topic_details.php?topicID=161)

[Mental]

Do you have a reason...or just stating?
------------

Anyways, no i don't think they should because tbh I don't think it will work in the long run. It will keep them alive but it won't help the actual problem. Just because you're feeding them to stay alive doesn't mean it helps the actual person. Sure you're feeding them but that doesn't mean they won't still have the fear of food or the weight they gain. Yes in extreme where the person is dangerously thin sure feed them, but this can cause problem and such.
They don't just get force-fed and then discharged as that only cuts the symptom but not the problem, they're given help such as group therapy and counselling, and such too. It's not impossible to recover from anorexia - many people do so.

They will just die needlessly, otherwise. Of course.. force-feeding should be a last resort.

[ShatteredWings]

Define "force-feeding"

If you're talking about making them eat huge platefuls of solid food, absoultly not.
Why?
Their stomachs have shunk to a point where they cannot eat It's cruel, it's painful, and more likley than not you're going to convince them that it's hopeless.

IV feeding to prevent imminent death however, i feel is OK.

[quartermaster]

;768189']Define "force-feeding"

If you're talking about making them eat huge platefuls of solid food, absoultly not.
Why?
Their stomachs have shunk to a point where they cannot eat It's cruel, it's painful, and more likley than not you're going to convince them that it's hopeless.


I highly doubt that is what the question is asking, and moreover, I highly doubt medical professionals would do something of the sort, so you need not worry nor mention this.

[ShatteredWings]

They do, actually...It's the ONLY reason my ideal (for me) weight doesn't put my bmi into "anorexia"
And yes, it is. "Should medical professionals force feed anorexics...?"

[quartermaster]

;769971']They do, actually...It's the ONLY reason my ideal (for me) weight doesn't put my bmi into "anorexia"
And yes, it is. "Should medical professionals force feed anorexics...?"

Really? Medical professionals force feed anorexics to death, regardless of the fact that the anorexics' stomachs cannot take large amounts? I was under the impression that such practices would not occur, on balance, because the negative results of such are medical 101. Do you have any sources or examples of such things happening? I would be curious to learn about such occurrences.

[INFERNO]

I say yes depending on the state of the anorexia. If the patient is at a point in their starvation where death is staring them in the face, then I say go for the force-feeding. It would be unpleasant and it would make the patients quite angry, however, when one is in such a state of mind, they may be deemed unable to make a rational decision. The medical staff are meant to aid the patient in their recovery, not have them die from a non-life threatening disease. Of course, have psychotherapy even if the patient does not require force-feeding. Hopefully, using psychotherapy, the starving patient can be more willing to eat without the need for force-feeding but when it comes to a point where they have little fat left, their bones are weakened, their muscle mass is declining and all this is on purpose, force-feeding is the only way. It is dangerous I would guess because their body would be resisting the food and there's a chance they'd throw-up while the food is getting stuffed down. However, it's a toss-up: danger vs. danger.

I think if the patient eats some of their food but not all of it, such as, say, 1/2 or 1/3, then there's no need for the force-feeding because it's clear they're eating. It may not be much but it's some.

[galen]

Force feeding? Yes but just enough for the body to survive. Anorexic patients are not psychologically sound enough to make decisions on whats best for them. However, the patient's wishes should also be respected as much as possible. So doctors should do as much as they can to save the patient's life while putting the patient through as little pain and discomfort as possible.