Nutrition support for adults: oral nutrition support, enteral tube feeding and parenteral nutrition

Making decisions

When starting or stopping nutrition support your healthcare professional should obtain your consent. If you are not able to give your consent, your healthcare professional must act in your best interest, following guidance issued by the General Medical Council and the Department of Health.

Healthcare professionals should be aware that the provision of nutrition support is not always appropriate. Ethical and legal principles need to be considered when making a decision on withholding or withdrawing nutrition support.