Talking about palliative sedation with the family: informed consent versus assent and a better framework for explaining potential risks

Several studies and international guidelines on palliative sedation have been published over the last two decades1. Clinical guidelines include a recommended decision-making process that focuses on patient consent for palliative sedation1. However, clinicians face difficulties when the patient cannot communicate due to disease progression, and empirical studies have demonstrated that about half of all patients have lost this capacity at initiation of palliative sedation2. Families are an important proxy, but quantitative research shows that about one-third of family members develop high levels of distress due to the burden of responsibility for this decision3.
Source: Journal of Pain and Symptom Management - Category: Palliative Care Authors: Source Type: research