Ethical dimensions in palliative nursing

Judging by the content and focus of national and international journals and conference programmes, it would appear that the preoccupation of health professionals with ethical aspects of care has increased dramatically in recent years. Nurses in particular are expressing deep concerns about the ethical dimensions of their work and many are opting to undertake advanced educational programmes dealing with this subject. It is interesting to reflect on the reasons for this growing concern. After all, many of the situations which we face today and which give rise to ethical dilemmas have been with us for many years. Life support machines, clinical trials and the desire of some to end their lives, when continued existence seems meaningless or intolerable, are not situations unique to the 1980s or 1990s - indeed, even I can remember them being around when I was a student nurse and that is going back some years!