Refusing to eat - can he be sectioned?

zaksmum

76 yr old uncle in hospital saying he's in such pain as to be unable to walk. All tests have come back clear but he's refusing to eat for the last 2 weeks.

Doctors want to insert feeding tube but he won't consent to this.

He now says one doctor has told him he could be sectioned and force fed via feeding tube. He won't allow us to speak to medics about this.

While I'm not asking for medical advice, is it true that he could be sectioned and force fed?

Olive_Oyl

zaksmum wrote: »

76 yr old uncle in hospital saying he's in such pain as to be unable to walk. All tests have come back clear but he's refusing to eat for the last 2 weeks.

Doctors want to insert feeding tube but he won't consent to this.

He now says one doctor has told him he could be sectioned and force fed via feeding tube. He won't allow us to speak to medics about this.

While I'm not asking for medical advice, is it true that he could be sectioned and force fed?

Hello zacksmum

I don't think your uncle can be sectioned unless he has MH issues if this is the case then yes , but then he could in effect pull out the tube if he wishes .

I hope he gets better soon .

pigpen

Unless he has severe mental health issues no.. BUT.. if he falls unconscious or into a coma then they can intervene.. maybe they were trying to scare him into eating because he is in effect trying to die.. Maybe they should be looking why this is instead of frightening a vulnerable old man.. I'd complain regardless, they shouldn't be saying things like that to people who are unwell..

Bennifred

Has he said why he is refusing to eat?

tanith

He is within his rights to have it added to his notes exactly what his wishes are should he become incapacitated (as long as there are no MH issues).. my Dad had DNR put on his notes when he became very ill as he did not want to be resuscitated if he became unconscious, I believe you can also refuse a feeding tube . I hope that he feels better soon and is persuaded to start eating again. You could speak to his doctors in confidence of course..

animum

hi. is it the hopsital food he is refusing, or ALL food? could someone maybe take in some of his favourite meals.....in small portions to start with? even some drinks would be a start. its very common for the elderly to get into a downward spiral in hospital. maybe even a trip out to a local cafe? I dont know if this is possible due to the nature of whatever he is in hospital for, but getting away, even if its just for twenty mins or so, may just perk him up a bit.

celebrate

hi
it depends on the state of his mind and whether the 2 doctors and social worker assessing him feel he is mentally unwell

basically if you are mentally fit and decide to stop eating no-one can stop you

if you have stopped eating in order to harm yourself because you have a mental illness (eg depression or some sort of psychosis) they can section you

hope he is ok, all the best X

ps, why don't they sort out his pain, that seems to be the reason why he is so fed up???
lots of treatments for pain these days he doesn't need to suffer!

Mupette

What about court orders to get the patient to be fed by tube?

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Why would he stop you intervening on his behalf if what he says were actually true?

What does he hope to gain by not eating? Discharge from hospital? Death? Unlimited morphine?

Until you find out why he's doing it, any comments that may or may not have been made to try and get him to eat are pretty much irrelevant.

ForumName_2

zaksmum wrote: »

76 yr old uncle in hospital saying he's in such pain as to be unable to walk. All tests have come back clear but he's refusing to eat for the last 2 weeks.

Doctors want to insert feeding tube but he won't consent to this.

He now says one doctor has told him he could be sectioned and force fed via feeding tube. He won't allow us to speak to medics about this.

While I'm not asking for medical advice, is it true that he could be sectioned and force fed?

If you refused to eat could they section you?????

If I refused to eat could they section me??????

alwaysonthego_2

If your uncle loses severe weight then a doctor could put him under a section 4 (2) for 72 hours if he suspects there are mental health issues, the doctor would have to sort out a section 3 for treatment (usually it is a social worker or the NOK that applys for it and needs 2 doctors to agree). Although eating covers physical needs rather than mental health, however there is case law that states that if medics believe that someone is mentally capacitated because of their medical condition then they can force feed them under section 63, even if they appear to be compementous, it is very complex but in theory yes the uncle could be sectioned.