Palliative Sedation at the End of Life Uses and Abuses

Palliative sedation is becoming more widely used in complex end-of-life scenarios. Its use is clearly a significant advance in good medical care in some settings but without the clear ethical guidelines of our Catholic moral tradition its use can lead to euthanasia. The current literature on palliative sedation is reviewed from both the secular and Catholic ethical perspectives. Case scenarios are used to illustrate both perspectives. Particular emphasis is placed on using sound ethical principles in the consideration of using palliative sedation at the end of life. Trends in the use of palliative sedation are reviewed.