[The bioethical principlism model applied in pain management]

Area of Science:

• Bioethics
• Pain Management
• Medical Ethics

Background:

• The adequate relief of pain is recognized as a fundamental human right.
• Pain management is intrinsically linked to core bioethical principles, including autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice.
• Despite its importance, ethical considerations in pain care are often overlooked by healthcare professionals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the scientific literature on the relationship between pain and the four main principles of bioethics.
• To evaluate the extent to which bioethical principlism is applied in the context of pain management.

Main Methods:

• An integrative literature review was conducted.
• Searches were performed in LILACS, SciELO, and MEDLINE databases using controlled descriptors.
• The review included 14 publications from April 2012, categorized by pain and each bioethical principle.

Main Results:

• The review identified publications linking pain to autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice.
• A significant neglect of bioethical principlism in the care of patients experiencing pain was observed.
• Healthcare professionals frequently overlook their ethical roles when managing patient suffering.

Conclusions:

• The principles of bioethics, particularly within the principlism framework, are inadequately applied in contemporary pain management.
• There is a critical need to implement new practices and enhance ethical awareness to improve pain care.
• Integrating bioethics more effectively into pain management is essential for upholding patient rights and improving quality of care.