Nutrition parentérale en phase terminale de cancer, quelles indications?

From a study of the prescription of parenteral nutrition in a terminal care unit concerning 59 patients, we analyze reasons for prescribing end stopping intravenous feeding in comparison with the recommendations of the FNCLCC: ”Standards, Options and Recommendations” (SOR) on the use of parenteral nutrition for the terminally ill adult suffering from incurable cancer. First of all questioning the process of the SOR, we emphasize the need to take the time for rigorous ethical process, before prescribing parenteral nutrition in situations of untime death. In addition are the three stages recommended by the European Association for Palliative Care (EAPC), this process must not elude the questions of the meaning of intravenous feeding for patients, for close relatives, and for the nursing team.