title: Palliative sedation.
abstract: The focus of palliative care is to relieve human suffering; however, about 90% of patients with advanced cancer will experience severe pain. Intolerable human suffering may be defined in the healthcare setting as symptoms that cannot be tolerated or endured for any length of time. If the patient is unable to communicate, the family or identified decision maker for the patient may decide when symptoms cannot be endured any longer. All dimensions (i.e., physical, psychological, social, emotional, and spiritual) of the symptom causing suffering must be evaluated.
authors: Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, Baton Rouge, LA, USA. mary.lawson@ololrmc.com
authors: Mary
authors: M
authors: Lawson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000451:nursing; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D024802:Nurse's Role; D010146:Pain / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000451:nursing; D010166:Palliative Care; D013727:Terminal Care
chemical_list: D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives