The ethics and practicalities of consent in palliative care research: an overview

In order to ensure that further developments and improvements are made in palliative care, research is essential. Palliative care is no different from other specialities in that it needs a scientific foundation on which to base its practice. Research in palliative care is particularly difficult, however, because of the population under study. Research in palliative care presents a 'minefield' of ethical issues. One of the major issues is how to obtain informed consent from patients. This article discusses the practical and ethical issues surrounding consent for quantitative research in palliative care, and offers some guidance to health professionals considering the issue with patients.