Ethics Section

Hello Everyone,

I am working on a project regarding the ethics of eating disorder management for inpatient admissions. Does anyone have a protocol for ethics consults or decision-making when discussions about feeding against a patient's will, sedation for nutrition, or other ethical issues come up for patients with an eating disorder? If so, I would appreciate anyone who is willing to discuss more or share protocols with me: elizabeth.beaty@hsc.wvu.edu.

Thanks!

- Liz Beaty

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Elizabeth Beaty MD
Associate Professor
West Virginia University
Morgantown, WV
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Hi Liz, We don't have a protocol for this. These 2 articles may be useful in case you have not seen them:

Ayton A, Ibrahim A, Solmi M, Bulik CM, van Furth EF, Mehler PS, Bauschka M, Guarda AS. Addressing the false dichotomy between autonomy and preservation of life: Clinical, legal, and ethical considerations in severe and longstanding anorexia nervosa. Int J Law Psychiatry. 2026 Mar-Apr;105:102179. doi: 10.1016/j.ijlp.2025.102179. Epub 2025 Nov 29. PMID: 41319454.

Tumba J, Smith M, Rodenbach KE. Clinical and Ethical Dilemmas in the Involuntary Treatment of Anorexia Nervosa. Harv Rev Psychiatry. 2023 Jan-Feb 01;31(1):14-21. doi: 10.1097/HRP.0000000000000355. PMID: 36608079.

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Preeti R. John MD, MPH, FACS, FCCM, HEC-C
Surgeon, Intensivist, Certified Healthcare Ethics Consultant,
Veterans Affairs Maryland Health Care System,
Clinical Associate Professor, Dept. of Surgery,
University of Maryland School of Medicine,
Baltimore, MD
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