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Related Concept Videos

Ethical Issues01:27

Ethical Issues

Nurses are essential in patient care, upholding the ethical principles of their profession and effectively navigating ethical dilemmas. Neglecting ethical issues can lead to inadequate patient care, compromised therapeutic relationships, and moral distress among healthcare workers.
Ethical Concerns in Healthcare:
Ethical Dilemmas II01:30

Ethical Dilemmas II

Resolving an ethical dilemma in healthcare involves a systematic approach that considers every aspect of the issue, respecting both the patient's needs and values and the healthcare professional's ethical obligations. Here are potential steps to resolve an ethical dilemma:
Ethical Dilemmas I01:17

Ethical Dilemmas I

Ethical dilemmas in nursing are of utmost importance, as they often arise from the tension between adhering to core ethical principles and the practical realities of healthcare delivery. These dilemmas require nurses to navigate complex situations where competing ethical considerations pull them in different directions.
Let us explore some examples to understand the potentially complex moral decisions nurses face.
Take the case of caring for minors, particularly in areas related to reproductive...
Nursing Ethical Principles II01:27

Nursing Ethical Principles II

Ethical principles are essential in guiding nurses to fulfill their responsibilities, focusing on the quality of nursing care and decision-making. These principles, including autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, justice, and fidelity, shape the ethical framework within healthcare settings.
Consider the following scenario, which illustrates how these principles are applied in the care of Mr. John, a fifty-year-old teacher diagnosed with metastatic liver cancer.
Initially, Mr. John's cancer...
Psychosurgery01:30

Psychosurgery

Psychosurgery, the surgical alteration or permanent removal of brain tissue to alleviate severe psychological conditions, stands as one of the most radical and controversial treatments in the history of mental health care. Its development and application have evolved significantly, marked by dramatic shifts in scientific understanding and ethical perspectives.
Historical Development of Psychosurgery
In the 1930s, Portuguese neurologist Antonio Egas Moniz introduced a surgical procedure designed...
Continuing Care01:25

Continuing Care

Continuing care describes the variety of health, personal, and social services provided over a prolonged period. The need for continuing care is increasing because people are living longer. Many people do not have families or others to care for them. Continuing care is mainly for patients who are disabled, functionally dependent, or suffering from a terminal disease. It is available within institutional settings or in homes. Examples include nursing centers or facilities, assisted living,...

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Updated: May 10, 2026

A Standardized Pig to Macaque Heterotopic Heart Xenotransplantation Model
06:52

A Standardized Pig to Macaque Heterotopic Heart Xenotransplantation Model

Published on: November 4, 2025

Palliative sedation versus euthanasia: an ethical assessment.

Henk ten Have1, Jos V M Welie2

  • 1Center for Healthcare Ethics, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.

Journal of Pain and Symptom Management
|June 8, 2013
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Palliative sedation ethics remain debated despite guidelines. Restricting the definition of intention is key to distinguishing palliative sedation from euthanasia and preserving the core values of palliative care.

Keywords:
End-of-life careethicseuthanasiahospice philosophypalliative carepalliative sedationphysician-assisted dyingterminal sedation

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 10, 2026

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06:52

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Published on: November 4, 2025

Area of Science:

  • Medical Ethics
  • Palliative Care Research

Background:

  • Ethical controversies persist regarding palliative sedation, challenging distinctions from euthanasia.
  • Practice variations and ambiguous moral experiences complicate the ethical landscape of palliative sedation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the ethical debate surrounding palliative sedation.
  • To propose a framework for ethically distinguishing palliative sedation from euthanasia.

Main Methods:

  • Review of ethical literature and guidelines on palliative sedation.
  • Analysis of the concept of intention in end-of-life care.
  • Examination of parameters like terminality, refractory symptoms, proportionality, and separation from other end-of-life decisions.

Main Results:

  • Current guidelines differentiate palliative sedation from euthanasia, but practice variations blur these lines.
  • A restricted definition of intention, alongside other ethical parameters, can help demarcate palliative sedation.
  • Overemphasis on palliative sedation may shift healthcare focus from holistic care to therapeutic intervention.

Conclusions:

  • A narrowly defined palliative sedation, guided by specific ethical parameters, can be distinguished from euthanasia.
  • Careful consideration of intention and other factors is crucial for ethical palliative sedation.
  • The rise of palliative sedation may impact the fundamental philosophy and practice of palliative care.