he Ethics of Withholding / Withdrawing utrition in the Newborn

he provision of nutrition and hydration to newborn infants is considered fundamental care. For remature and critically ill newborns, similar considerations generally hold true. Nutrition may be rovided for these infants using assisted measures such as parenteral nutrition or tube feedings. owever, for some newborn infants the provision of medically assisted nutrition may be a more omplicated issue. In particular, the goals of nutrition need to be clearly elaborated for newborns ith lethal conditions or for whom appropriately administered intensive care is unsuccessful in ustaining life. These infants may benefit from palliative measures of care and a limitation or ithdrawal of burdensome or nonbeneficial interventions. This article explores issues pertinent to eciding and communicating the appropriate withdrawal of medically assisted nutrition and impleenting palliative comfort measures. 2003 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.