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Sedation in the terminally ill — a clinical perspective

  • Symposium On Voluntary Euthanasia
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Abstract

This article discusses the place of sedation in the care of the terminally ill, as used in the practice of palliative care using case studies, clinical pragmatism forms the theoretical framework from which to elucidate the varying part that sedation plays in the overall management of a person facing the end of life. We contend that when used appropriately, sedation is an ethical and legitimate intervention that enhances comfort at the end of life and ought not sedate the person onto “oblivion”.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Palliative Care, Victoria

    Margaret O’connor (Chairperson)

  2. Department of Medicine, St Vincent’s Hospital & University of Melbourne, Australia

    David W. Kissane (Director Palliative Medicine & Consultant Psychiatrist)

  3. Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute & Caritas Christi Hospice, Australia

    Odette Spruyt MBChB (Head of Palliative Care and Consultant Physician)

Authors
  1. Margaret O’connor
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  2. David W. Kissane
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  3. Odette Spruyt MBChB
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O’connor, M., Kissane, D.W. & Spruyt, O. Sedation in the terminally ill — a clinical perspective. Monash Bioethics Review 18, 17–27 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03351224

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03351224

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