Ethical arguments for providing palliative care to non-cancer patients

Palliative care professionals have begun to address the issues surrounding the provision of palliative care to non-cancer patients. Yet the situation remains inconsistent and morally unjustifiable. The duty to provide care, non-maleficence, beneficence, protecting the patient's best interests and respecting patient autonomy are key responsibilities which palliative care professionals have for all their patients, regardless of their diagnosis. On the grounds of justice as fairness, equality and equity, the current inconsistencies in the provision of palliative care to non-cancer patients are unfair unequal and inequitable. Professionals can no longer ignore their moral responsibility to address these issues and change their practice to include the provision of care for dying patients regardless of their diagnoses.