Feeding Tube Case Study Essay

The two cases in question here have several similarities and differences. The two cases are similar because they are dealing with two elderly patients who are not in a position to take care of themselves. In the first case of Eleanor Dawson who is 92 years old, apart from having a urinary tract infection and developing a large pressure on her coccyx, she is also suffering from senile dementia which is further worsening the case at hand. Senile dementia which is a disease characteristic of old age, affect brain cells and thus resulting to progressive memory loss and mental abilities. There is no known cure for this disease.Feeding Tube Case Study Essay  As a result, the patient is difficulties in reasoning and accepting new things making her completely incapable of self care including bathing and eating. This is the reason why the doctor the order has ordered that a feeding tube to be used on Eleanor who has ultimately refused. The second case involves Helen Jefferson who is 88 years old and suffering from a terminal illness (untreatable breast cancer). Her cancer has spread to several parts of her body including bones and lungs. As a result she has given up hope on her life and she is ready to die. Consequently, she refuses to eat and that is the reason why the doctor has ordered a nasogastric feeding tube for her. This makes the two cases similar in that, it involves two elderly women suffering from untreatable diseases. Both of them also have refused to eat and both refuse feeding tubes to be used on them (Newson & Aldous, 2005).Feeding Tube Case Study Essay