title: The proportionate value of proportionality in palliative sedation.
abstract: Proportionality, as it pertains to palliative sedation, is the notion that sedation should be induced at the lowest degree effective for symptom control, so that the patient's consciousness may be preserved. The pursuit of proportionality in palliative sedation is a widely accepted imperative advocated in position statements and guidelines on this treatment. The priority assigned to the pursuit of proportionality, and the extent to which it is relevant for patients who qualify for palliative sedation, have been overstated.
authors.affiliation: Division of Palliative Medicine and Bioethics, Department of Medicine, Winthrop University Hospital, 222 Station Plaza North, Mineola, NY 11501 USA. JBerger@Winthrop.org.
authors.forename: Jeffrey T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Berger
mesh_terms: D016292:Procedural Sedation; D003243:Consciousness; D054810:Deep Sedation; D004569:Electroencephalography; D006801:Humans; D059408:Pain Management; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000628:therapy*