Should anorexics be force fed as part of their medical treatment?
I support the force feeding of anorexics as part of their medical treatment as it may save their lives and give them the opportunity to seek therapy.
Anorexia is an illness that requires a treatment regimen much like any other disease. if the patient is unable or unwilling to eat then the next of kin and medical specialist has the right to intervene and treat the patient. In the case of an anorexic treatment entails force feeding vital nutrients. This will enable the patient to undergo long term treatment such as counseling and support groups.
Posted by: R3n5God2iIIaThey will DIE!
All major religions in the world teach that life is precious. It is not okay to kill yourself, so why would we allow people to deliberately kill themselves? Life is important, it is our jobs as human beings to better and help our fellow humans. Please better humanity.
Posted by: AnonymousIt's a psychological disorder and not a rational choice that causes anorexics to refuse food.
Forcing anorexics to eat is necessary to keep them alive sometimes. Anorexia is a psychological disorder, but the physical symptoms have to be treated in addition to giving the person counseling. When a person is malnourished, it can effect memory and thought processes, so counseling alone won't help if they're not thinking clearly.
Posted by: N Schroeder 60Life is more important than dignity.
Especially if they are family I don't care whether it is unpleasant. Do it through an I.V., but keep them alive. Support and counseling will help get them to the root of their problems and a healthy body is necessary to treat the patient's psychological problems. I'd hate to watch or be in their shoes, but in the end all that matters is that they are alive and they will thank you later.
Posted by: AnonymousI do believe anorexics should be force fed as part of their medical treatment, because anorexia is attempted suicide and that is illegal, they need food.
When someone is anorexic it is because they feel bad about the way they look. They feel embarrassed to eat and ashamed of eating. They think they look fat or they are disgusted with eating. They are not in their right mind and are hurting themselves. People die from anorexia and suffer from other illnesses and complications. When they are in the hospital, they should be forced to eat so they will learn that it is normal to eat and that they will be punished if they don't eat. This way they will feel better about eating and not so ashamed. They should receive counseling as well to realize what's going on with them.
Posted by: Pl4tinumCammyYes, but only until the patient is strong enough to survive on their own.
A counter-argument says the anorexics need mental help/counseling. They will not live long enough to complete any counseling if they are not force fed. Anorexics often feel like there is no way out of their situation - but there is. Force feeding anorexics is not ideal, and it doesn't sound right...but its the only way to keep them alive so that they can have a better life.
Posted by: AnonymousYes, because the anorexic patient is controlled by their disease, force-feeding may be needed.
Force-feeding could keep the anorexic patient alive long enough to undergo treatment, in order to be free from this disease. While they are suffering with anorexia, the disease is in control, and it prevents them from thinking rationally about food. Force-feeding can prevent starvation, and at least give treatment a chance to work.
Posted by: Th4FireWe have to keep anorexics alive so they can regain mental clarity.
Anorexia is essentially slow suicide. One of the basic tenets of mental health treatment is that suicide is always an irrational act. While I don't completely agree with that, I do agree with it when the source of the suicidal tendencies is a body image issue that may be correctable. It's an unfortunate fact that anorexia is fairly treatment-resistant with our current scientific knowledge, but at the same time, there are many anorexics that have been able to at least live with themselves after some treatment. Even for those who are treatment-resistant now, future advances may help them. We need to keep them alive until then.
Posted by: 54uIIanYes, those with Anorexia have a psychological disorder but they need to be alive to address that disorder of the mind and cope with it.
Anorexic patients often fear a loss of control, low-self esteem, depression and many other psychological disorders but in order for these to be treated we need to get these people away from deaths door. If we don't feed them they have a good chance of dying or becoming severely malnourished before they can get the psychological help they need. Therefore force feeding is necessary to keep them alive and allow the mental issues to be addressed
Posted by: AnonymousI believe anorexics should be force fed as part of their treatment, if that's what it takes to keep someone alive.
If the patient can be made to eat it will keep them alive and little by little they may come to see that the food is making them stronger and healthier rather than the reverse. This should always be coupled with intensive therapy to alter their self-destructive behavior for the long term and get to the root of the problem which is the only way an anorexic patient will ever really recover. Force-feeding during the therapy may be necessary to keep the patient alive long enough to persuade them to want to live and in order for that to happen, that they also want to eat.
Posted by: Chr0IviobileAnorexics should be force fed as part of their medical treatment if they are under the age of 18
Anorexics should be force fed as part of their medical treatment if they are under the age of 18 and their parents want them to be force fed. If the individual is over the age of 18, the answer is no because that person is legally an adult and should be able to make up their own minds. It would be akin to saying that all adults should be forced into therapy or treatment for alcoholism. The government can't establish a law doing that, even if it is a good thing.
Posted by: SandDariIt's better for them to die?
They shouldn't be forcefed right away, and political, religious, or spiritual reasons should be given an exception or else they might try to stop a hunger strike protest by declaring protesters "anorexic".
But they should forcefeed them after a while if they can't get them to eat on their own.Posted by: MasturDbtorAnorexics may need to be force fed as part of their medical treatment.
The first rule of medicine is to do no harm. If an anorexic is to remain alive they must have food and nutrients. The disease may make the anorexic not want to eat which may lead to their death. So there really is no choice but to force feed those that are not taking in enough nourishment.
Posted by: R0d30PincSince there is danger of death if anorexics are not fed, they should be force fed until their problem is dealt with and they are willing to eat on their own.
Force feeding is not pleasant, especially for an anorexic, but I feel that it is necessary while they are receiving treatment to try to get to the root of their problem. If they are not fed, there is a likelihood that they will die without ever having faced the problems that have caused them to get this disease. Hopefully, after receiving treatment, they will begin to eat on their own again in order to become healthy.
Posted by: R0d0FerdyEat or die
I think they should be force fed to keep them alive because the way they think is because they are sick. They need help and once they understand with other medical treatments like counselling, they will "wise up" and live a happy rather than die and leave the family distraught. Anorexia is a way of thinking which can be changed with help. It is not right to let someone starve themselves. I used to be depressed and suicidal. I got help and antidepressants which I was totally against, but it has saved my life and now I understand how stupid I was thinking. Without the force from my parents and doctor I would probably be in a river right now LOL.
Posted by: roosterham
That's HORRIBLE!
Anorexia is a psychological disorder, it would be like taking someone who is afraid of heights and making them go sky-diving for 'treatment' it's horrible, you need to address the problem, not traumatize them. Anorexia is a fear of eating, by force feeding them you are increasing that fear of eating, and pushing them further away from wanting to be cured, or feeling safe enough around the provider of their treatment to allow the psychiatric help to affect them.
Posted by: AnonymousAnorexics should not be force fed, because overcoming the disease is mental, not physical.
Overcoming anorexia is not simply about gaining weight back, it is about the realization that one needs to eat food in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle. If anorexics were force fed, then they would not come to this realization themselves, and they would be a lot more likely to relapse, which is the least desirable result.
Posted by: LongBo86I don't believe anorexics should be force fed because it goes against freedom of choice.
Instead of force feeding anorexics as part of their medical treatment, they should be educated about the disease, and be properly warned of all the risks involved with not eating. But to physically force someone against their will to do something they don't want to do is wrong. I also believe that suicide should be legal, and that people's choices when not affecting others should be respected.
Posted by: 5h035ConI oppose force-feeding anorexics in a medical facility, as this is not part of rehabilitation. When they leave the facility, they would more than likely resort to their old habits. Instead of force-feeding them, the underlying issues should be dealt wit
While being force fed might seem to resolve them being underweight, the underlying issue of them viewing themselves as overweight should be the main cause of treatment. Force feeding them might result in their disapproval of treatment and they may withdraw from the facility. If they are treated mentally for their disorder, it would result in a healthier lifestyle and less likely hood of them returning to anorexia after leaving the facility.
Posted by: PremiumTyreeAnorexics should not be force fed as part of medical treatment unless it is necessary to revive them back to life.
Force feeding an anorexic person is not the solution to the problem. If they are at the point of death, they can use force feeding to get them healthy. However, at the point where they can control their own actions, they need to be properly taught how to heal themselves. The sick person needs to want to help themselves and needs to teach themselves to eat. It can't be forced onto them.
Posted by: EImerN4thIt will not be effective to force feed an anorexic in treatment, because the mental issue needs to be addressed.
Force-feeding someone who suffers from anorexia will not help you treat them. IV feeding should be used while they refuse to eat, but it is imperative that the mental issues of the disease are addressed. Otherwise, when you release them, and no one is there to force-feed them, they will just fall right back into their destructive cycle.
Posted by: CreepyRandy47I oppose force feeding anorexics; it will not solve their problem.
I believe that force feeding anorexics might be an immediate fix for their health problems but it will not be beneficial long term. Anorexics need therapy and help solving the problem that caused the condition in the first place. Force feeding them will only be a short term fix and will not cure or help to treat the problem.
Posted by: EducatedAlfonsoAnorexics should not be force fed, because anorexia is primarily a psychological disorder and force feeding could make it worse.
Anorexics should not be force fed, because anorexia is primarily a psychological disorder and force feeding could make it worse. Anorexics have a bad relationship with food from the start and they see it as something very negative that they must avoid. If they are force fed they will continue to see food as something to be avoided at all costs. They must instead be made to see food as necessary and not evil.
Posted by: esmeraldineAnorexics should not be force fed, as this will not help their condition.
Anorexia needs to be treated through therapy and understanding. Forcing someone who is anorexic to eat could very easily have the effect of making them even less likely to want to eat on their own. You have to figure out why a person is choosing not to eat, and then find a way to counteract this mindset through reasoning. Force feeding is a terrible answer.
Posted by: TwoVicNo they should not be force-fed.
Eating is only one part of anorexia. It is also a mental battle. Anorexics who are force-fed will not be recovered. Yes, they may gain weight, but their minds will remain hating themselves. Force-feeding does nothing but make anorexics feel guilty and more overweight. I think that they should recover in a more calmer way than force-feeding. It's important to eat, but they should at least have some control over their food, or at least let them choose foods they're okay with eating and slowly they will recover.
Posted by: KaylaLuciano8No!
Let them dies, if they're stupid enough to starve themself.
Posted by: sculmer2it's a psychological disorder
it really has little to do with food it's about control. dealing with the symptom without dealing with the cause does not sole the issue.
Posted by: AnonymousNo, that's horrible.
It's inhumane, it's disgusting, and it's frightening. Sure, you're getting something in them in the short term, but in the long term, all that's going to happen is that it will make them worse. They will not only associate food with fear and loss of control, but they will be put off completely.
They need help. Kind, compassionate treatment. We're not barbarians after all.Posted by: AnonymousAbsolutely not! Anorexia is a disease and would not be cured by force feeding individuals.
Anorexia is not simply willful people refusing to eat. It is a psychological disease brought on by low self esteem and distorted views of body image. In emergency life or death situations, feeding individuals my be necessary to maintain their life. Eventually the underlying psychological issues must be addressed in order for the disease to be cured though. This disease can be reversed and adverse side effects to the behavior can be minimized or eliminated through intense treatment and monitoring. In essence even if you wanted to force feed individuals, if their disease was advanced they may not be able to respond properly to that treatment. Intravenously would be possible, but still does not address the disease.
Posted by: Ment0n3Unless there is an immediate danger of dying, anorexics should not be force fed.
A large component of anorexia or other body image diseases is related to control issues. People who feel that they are not in control of their lives focus on an aspect of life that they can control - what they eat. Forcing them to eat will not help them to feel in more control of their lives, and will only lead to them to more extreme behaviors.
Posted by: 5h4DevIt's inhumane!
Force feeding an anorexic is like putting claustrophobic in a room smaller than their comfort. It is morally wrong. You can force feed someone as much as you want but they will throw it up as soon as it happens. you cannot force someone to eat. it is a psychological disorder and has nothing to do with force feeding them. you cannot force anyone to do that. it's inhumane.
Posted by: AnonymousThey should be treated for a mental disorder.
Because Anorexia is a mental illness they don’t have much control over themselves not eating, so they need to be treated mentally for their disorder not physically. Anorexia is a serious disorder that requires more than simply getting food into the patients. Force feeding patients would likely cause more future problems rather than solve the disorder. The underlying issue of them viewing themselves as overweight should be the main cause of treatment. Force feeding may be successful but only for a short amount of time. It does not reduce their fear of food and weight gain. An anorexic’s biggest fear is weight gain. If an anorexia sufferer thinks that they will be force fed as a part of treatment, they may be less likely to seek treatment or advice. If they are treated mentally for their disorder it would result in a healthier lifestyle and cause them to have a lower chance of returning to anorexia after finishing their treatment. Instead of force feeding anorexics as part of their medical treatment, they should be educated about the disease and be properly warned of all the risks involved with not eating. To physically force someone against their will to do something they don’t want to do is wrong.
Posted by: AnonymousAnorexia is essentially a psychological problem, and encouraged by big business and Hollywood.
It is unnatural to not eat therefore anorexia is a social and psychological problem. People that do not eat because they feel they are too fat when in fact they are too thin, are influenced by the mass media, big business and Hollywood. An anorexic should be treated psychologically but not force fed. These people do not have a good sense of self. If a person does not eat, they deserve to die. It's a case of cause and effect.
Posted by: Nik0InteriorForce feeding an anorexic patient is taking their right to their own bodies.
Anorexia is a psychological disorder, not a physical disorder. Forcing an anorexic to eat does nothing to reduce the fear of gaining weight. They have the right to their own body. They should have the right to their own bodies. You can't force them to live. It's not your choice.
Posted by: AnonymousNo, it's just wrong.
Should anorexic patients be force-fed? Anorexia Nervosa is characterized by the refusal to eat. Overcoming anorexia nervosa is not simply about gaining weight back, it is about the realization that one needs to eat food in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle. If anorexics were force fed, then they would not come to this realization themselves, and they would be a lot more likely to relapse, or be in danger of physical or mental harm, which is the worst result.
If someone is suffering from anorexia instead of force feeding them, try to talk to them, try to show them that food isn't harmful, that it's okay to eat. Force feeding someone if probably one of the worst things you could do to someone suffering an eating disorder. By force feeding them, your possibly making them even more scared of food, because its forced. You could kill the patient too.
Would you like being fed against your will? How would you feel if it was you? You wouldnt like it right? That's exactly how most patients suffering from Anorexia feel. We need to follow the paitents wishes. If they wish to be force fed, force feed them. If they don't wanr to be, then don't.Posted by: JaidenAlyssa123Anorexics should not be force fed as part of their medical treatment, as the problem will return, just as soon as they are off their forced regimen.
Anorexia is a complex disorder that requires more than simply getting food into the patients. Force-feeding patients would likely cause more future problems, rather than solve the disorder. Although many people believe that the patients simply need to start eating to fix the problem, the patient is likely to see that treatment as brutal, and it may push them deeper into an antagonistic relationship with food.
Posted by: P3nrIinforce feeding is wrong!
Anorexics have a disorder and they need to get help the right way not being forced to eat, people think there choosing not to eat but the truth is they would love to eat like a regular human they just cant, it's a mental disorder they need to learn how to eat the right way and on there own, encouraging it is ok but don't force it it will just make them worse
Posted by: Wolfgang666