Ethical issues in palliative care.
OBJECTIVE
To review important issues that address respect for patient autonomy, beneficnce, non-maleficence, and justice, which are included in communication surrounding the determination of decision-making capacity, informed consent, breaking bad news, and creating shared goals of care.


METHODS
Review articles, and government and organizational reports.


CONCLUSIONS
Palliative care and its proximity to end-of-life care issues frequently raises ethical issues for patients, their families, and the clinicians caring for them. Supporting the identification and honoring the patient's preferences for treatment are central components of ethical behavior.


CONCLUSIONS
Advance care planning provides an important opportunity for respecting patient autonomy and may be helpful when discussing care options surrounding resuscitation, withholding or withdrawal of treatment, or the determination of medical futility.
Kinlaw
Kathy
K
Emory University Center for Ethics, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA. kkinlaw@emory.edu
D032722:Advance Care Planning / Q000941:ethics; D003142:Communication; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D005440:Fluid Therapy / Q000941:ethics; D006040:Goals; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent / Q000941:ethics / Q000523:psychology; D018447:Medical Futility / Q000941:ethics; D024802:Nurse's Role / Q000523:psychology; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000941:ethics; D018529:Nutritional Support / Q000941:ethics; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000941:ethics* / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology; D010344:Patient Advocacy / Q000941:ethics / Q000523:psychology; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D028662:Principle-Based Ethics; D012944:Social Support; D014342:Truth Disclosure / Q000941:ethics; D028761:Withholding Treatment / Q000941:ethics