Ethical challenges of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy.

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is a widely used procedure for patients who cannot swallow. Although it is mostly performed for valid indications, its use in terminally ill patients is questionable. In this study, more than 30% of patients died in hospital after PEG placement and 16% died less than 30 days after placement. Strict guidelines and oversight or PEG placement are recommended.