title: Accessing the ethics of complex health care practices: would a "domains of ethics analysis" approach help?
abstract: This paper explores how using a "domains of ethics analysis" approach might constructively contribute to an enhanced understanding (among those without specialized ethics training) of ethically-complex health care practices through the consideration of one such sample practice, i.e., deep and continuous palliative sedation (DCPS). For this purpose, I select four sample ethics domains (from a variety of possible relevant domains) for use in the consideration of this practice, i.e., autonomous choice, motives, actions and consequences. These particular domains were chosen because of their relevance to the analysis of DCPS and their relative ease of access to those without ethics training. The analysis demonstrates that such an approach could facilitate the emergence of accessible arguments and discussion points that could enhance the understanding and appreciation of this and other health care practices with strong ethics dimensions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioethics, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, 5849 University Avenue, Halifax, NS B3H 4H7, Canada. Jeffrey.Kirby@dal.ca
authors.forename: Jeffrey
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kirby
mesh_terms: D003657:Decision Making / Q000941:ethics*; D026689:Ethical Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D028601:Euthanasia, Active / Q000941:ethics; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D033182:Intention; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000941:ethics*; D026684:Personal Autonomy
chemical_list: D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives