JAMA : the journal of the American Medical Association
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JAMA
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To determine the frequency of symptoms of hunger and thirst in a group of terminally ill patients and determine whether these symptoms could be palliated without forced feeding, forced hydration, or parenteral alimentation. ⋯ In this series, patients terminally ill with cancer generally did not experience hunger and those who did needed only small amounts of food for alleviation. Complaints of thirst and dry mouth were relieved with mouth care and sips of liquids far less than that needed to prevent dehydration. Food and fluid administration beyond the specific requests of patients may play a minimal role in providing comfort to terminally ill patients.