AMERICAN  COLLEGE  OF PHYSICIANS (ACP)
Independence Mall; West 6th Street at Race
Philadelphia, PA 19106

(215) 351-2400

Organizational overview:  Founded in 1915, the American College of Physicians is a professional society of physicians specializing in internal medicine and closely related specialties.  The ACP has 80,000 members and publishes the Annals of Internal Medicine. The ACP's Ethics Committee, composed of practicing internists, medical ethicists, educators, and lawyers, published a “Physicians Ethics Manual” in two installments of the Annals of Internal Medicine in 1989. The ACP later updated the manual in 1992.

Position on tube feeding at the end of life 

It is not unethical to discontinue or withhold fluids and nutritional support under certain circumstances.  An emerging clinical and judicial position is that enteral and parenteral nutrition and hydration should be likened to other medical interventions and may be withheld or withdrawn according to general principles for decision making outlined above (ACP 1989: 333). 

Citations

American College of Physicians (ACP). 1989. "American College of Physicians Ethics Manual II," Annals of Internal Medicine. Vol. 111, pp. 327-335.

 _____. 1992. "American College of Physicians Ethics Manual," (3rd ed.). Annals of Internal Medicine, Vol. 117, pp. 947-960.