ABSTRACT
Anorexia nervosa is a complex psychiatric illness with the highest mortality of any psychiatric illness. Although a significant percentage of individuals with anorexia recover, a small number develop a severe and enduring form of the illness. Management options for these individuals include harm reduction and palliative care. The question of futility and the right of individuals with anorexia nervosa to refuse further treatment is topical, and the debate focuses on whether or not these individuals have the capacity to refuse treatment. Laws permitting physician-assisted death and euthanasia are also relevant with regard to this population.
