Palliative sedation as part of a continuum of palliative care.

Abstract

Three issues seem to animate those who advocate the move toward a broad allowance of physician-assisted death. The first is the supposed failure of palliative care in extreme cases. We challenge the notion that palliative care ever fails. When palliative sedation is understood to be a routine continuation of palliative care, as opposed to a last-ditch response to a dramatic failure, then palliative care will never fail. The second focuses on helping patients maintain a sense of control in their final days and hours. We believe that continued intimate involvement in each of the final stages that is essential in the palliative care-palliative sedation continuum will be more effective palliative care and still grant control to the patient under the principle of respect for autonomy. The third issue is the charge that palliative sedation is a euphemism for physician-assisted death. We reject that charge.