Which Principle of Ethics can you use?

Terminal Sedation has its place in the arena of palliative care.  This is a form of sedation that allows the patient to be unconscious and unaware of the surroundings so that they may have a painless peaceful death.  It is important to emphasize that the patient is given IV sedation to the point of unconsciousness and it is the disease that is the cause of death not the terminal sedation.  Death will happen as a natural consequence not from the sedation.  It is palliative care and not euthanasia.  The emphasis on the hospice concept is to neither hasten death nor attempt to cure the disease.  It is to assist the patient in as painless as possible death.  For states that do not have a physician assisted suicide laws this is a form of control that the patients can elect and will have a guarantee that their last moments will be pain free.  Terminal sedation needs to remain an option for patients in the end of life, it is the only guarantee to a painless, peaceful death.

 Rietjens J.C., van Delden J.M., van der Heide A, (2006) Terminal Sedation and Euthanasia: A Comparison of Clinical Practices. Arch Intern Med. 166(7):749-753. Retrieved http://archinte.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=410108

Next we will talk about Physician Assisted Suicide be prepared!