Language Variations in Describing Nutrition and Hydration Interventions in State Physician Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment Forms and the Implications for Advanced Dementia Patients.

The language describing end-of-life nutrition and hydration interventions and feeding tubes in state POLST forms is insufficiently specific and varies significantly across the country. These terms are at best ambiguous and at worst imply incorrect information. More precise language may assist in the difficult discussion between physicians and surrogates about inserting feeding tubes in advanced dementia patients.