Chapter One
Section Two Summary
• Palliative sedation is a medical intervention used to
provide relief from refractory suffering in patients with lifelimiting
illnesses and limited life expectancy.
• Palliative sedation involves the monitored, deliberate
and proportional use of medications to reduce a person's
level of consciousness.
• Palliative sedation can be performed either continuously
or intermittently, ranging from light to deep sedation.
• Palliative sedation has significant social and ethical
implications which must be considered by patients,
families, and caregivers before it is commenced.
Key
Messages
Keywords
Terminology, palliative sedation, refractory
suffering, proportionality, end-of-life, palliative
care
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