Sedation for comfort at end of life.
Treatment for patients who are dying from cancer and are suffering with physiologic and existential symptoms is an important and valuable skill for health care providers. However, the treatment for suffering at the end of life and the use of sedation for comfort often are misunderstood. The following is a discussion of the clinical skills and ethical considerations that health care providers should have when treating terminal patients with cancer.
Walton
Olivia
O
Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, 2000 E. Circle of Hope, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA. olivia.walton@hci.utah.edu
Weinstein
Sharon M
SM
D001463:Barbiturates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology
D001463:Barbiturates; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D001569:Benzodiazepines