16 responses to “Appropriate use of sedation in palliative care”

  1. Very good article, esp separating sedation from induction of unconsciousness.

  2. Thank you for the article

  3. Good article

  4. A real challenge in Pallative Care with those patients who want a few hours of restful sleep BUT when awake want to be aware of life around them.

  5. I find this a little confusing. If in 5 of 6 studies, the use of sedatives is associated with a similar or longer survival, then how can it be that ” There is no doubt that sedative doses high enough to cause respiratory depression can precipitate death.” Surely you have presented conclusive evidence to the contrary?

  6. Thanks for this article. Confirms the challenges in managing end of life.

  7. Good topic – need more on palliative care.

  8. Well balanced interesting article

  9. I would have liked to get information on the family/caregiver perception of patient’s comfort and overall satisfaction with palliative care when a patient gets sedated vs not.

  10. I have depended more on opioids than sedatives at end of life but certainly, combining them with sedative drugs can be helpful. The Doctrine of Double Effect is a new concept to me, but certainly something to think about. Most of my work now is in a diagnostic and treatment centre, so I do not deal with these issues as much as I did in the past.

  11. Reading the articles has given me a better understanding of the use of sedatives at end of life and it is good to know that, in reasonable doses they do not speed death.

  12. The Doctrine of Double Effect seems to me to be very close to euthanasia, which is not an accepted medical practice. I guess it is a balance between controlling agitation, delirium and restlessness and the slight risk that the sedation might speed death. The articles seem to suggest that they do not speed death.

  13. Great approach, reminds us to treat reversible causes when we can but can be used as an option in appropriate situations and in consultation with team/family/patient.

  14. We have come a long way in palliative care in the last 40 years,but there is still a ways to go. Doctors need better information as in this article and we need better ways to inform families/caregivers to get them onside.

  15. This confirms practice already in use.

  16. Good article.

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