Palliative sedation to alleviate existential suffering at end-of-life: Insight into a controversial practice

Palliative sedation to alleviate existential suffering at end-of-life: insight into a controversial practice.

All terminally ill individuals should have access to palliative care that gives equal importance to all aspects of suffering. In spite of all the efforts made, some of these individuals will, unfortunately, be left with suffering described as "refractory". It would appear that palliative sedation then becomes an option. There is much controversy around this practice, especially when it is used ...

Sedation at the end of life - a nation-wide study in palliative care units in Austria

BACKGROUND Sedation is used to an increasing extent in end-of-life care. Definitions and indications in this field are based on expert opinions and case series. Little is known about this practice at palliative care units in Austria. METHODS Patients who died in Austrian palliative care units between June 2012 and June 2013 were identified. A predefined set of baseline characteristics and inf...

A Grounded Theory Exploration of the Psychosocial Process and Dynamic Reality Encountered by Registered Nurses Who Administer Palliative Sedation to Relieve Suffering at End of Life

Palliative Care at the End of Life.

OBJECTIVES To describe the process of symptom management in the care of oncology patients with advanced cancer. DATA SOURCES Journal articles, evidence-based reviews, textbooks, and clinical guidelines. CONCLUSION Symptom management is an essential component of oncology nursing practice that improves quality of life for patients and families throughout the cancer trajectory. IMPLICATIONS ...

Physicians' experiences and perspectives regarding the use of continuous sedation until death for cancer patients in the context of psychological and existential suffering at the end of life

OBJECTIVE The use of continuous sedation until death for terminally ill cancer patients with unbearable and untreatable psychological and existential suffering remains controversial, and little in-depth insight exists into the circumstances in which physicians resort to it. METHODS Our study was conducted in Belgium, the Netherlands, and the UK in hospitals, PCUs/hospices, and at home. We hel...