[Ethical questions in the Spanish journal "Medicina Paliativa": 1994 - 2013].
OBJECTIVE
"Medicina Paliativa" is the official journal of the Spanish Society of Palliative Care ("Sociedad Española de Cuidados Paliativos"; SECPAL) and it reflects the interests, also on bioethics, of the professionals caring terminal people. We want to know what the bioethical questions they discuss and their approaches are.


METHODS
From all the published articles in "Medicina Paliativa" from 1994 to 2013 we selected those referred to bioethics topics. We analysed: number of publications, author, subtype of article, year of publication, topic, philosophic approach, and the presence of answers and discussion. Qualitative topics were reviewed and agreed by at least two authors.


RESULTS
There were 60 (9%) publications with bioethics profile from a total of 672 analyzed articles. A majority were signed by only one author. 31 (51%) were published as letter. The most relevant topics were: euthanasia, dignity, proportionality of treatment and care, sedation, principles of bioethics, and information. The orientation of these papers was, in a majority, according to principles of palliative care. Most bioethics topics have been answered and even answered back.


CONCLUSIONS
Bioethics is an interesting topic in palliative care. The arguments usually fit the principles of palliative care.
Oncología Médica. Hospital Universitario del Río Hortega. c/ Dulzaina 1. 47012 Valladolid. asrubiales@hotmail.com.
Alvaro
A
Sanz Rubiales
Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valladolid.
María Luisa
ML
Del Valle Rivero
Unidad de Investigación y Docencia. Complejo Hospitalario San Luis. Palencia.
Luis Alberto
LA
Flores Pérez
Equipo Domiciliario de Cuidados Paliativos. Área Este. Valladolid.
Silvia
S
Hernansanz de la Calle
Celia
C
Gutiérrez Alonso
Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valladolid.
Consuelo
C
García Recio
D026688:Bioethical Issues; D010166:Palliative Care; D010506:Periodicals as Topic; D011643:Publishing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012955:Societies, Medical; D013030:Spain