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Euthanasia vs. Palliative Sedation

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Euthanasia vs. Palliative Sedation
Euthanasia vs. Palliative Sedation
Mary McCann
Keiser University
Research for Evidence Based Practice & outcome management
Nurs 680
Dr. Jenkins
April 28, 2013

Euthanasia vs. Palliative Sedation
In this paper the author will discuss the difference between euthanasia, physician assisted suicide, and palliative sedation. The author will discuss the legal and ethical side of palliative sedation.
Palliative sedation is where they use education to induce or decrease awareness of one 's intractable suffering at the end of life (Olsen, Swetz, & Mueller, 2010, p. 949). They use this type of sedation when other most common forms of pain control does not relieve the pain the patient is feeling. Not only is it used to treat pain but it is also used to treat delirium, pain, dyspnea, nausea or other physical symptoms (Olsen et al., 2010, p. 950). In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina reviewers concluded that physicians choice of benzodiazepines instead of barbiturates indicated a goal of palliative rather than euthanasia, stating that barbiturates were more deadly. Some institutions used ketamine or propoful in patients condition is refractory to opioids and midazolam. Opiates should not be used for primary purpose of sedation, but rather should be continued adjunctively during palliative sedation for analgesic purpose to prevent opiate withdrawal (Olsen et al., 2010, p. 950). Usually palliative sedation is given in a form of continuous drip but there has been times when palliative sedation has been given intermittently. Palliative sedation should be given in the areas of general care or hospice settings, ICU settings can be too hectic and uncomfortable for families. Cardiac monitoring is no good in achieving the goals of palliative sedation (Olsen et al., 2010, p. 951). Before palliative care is given written consent should be obtained by the patient or the patients family.
In the state f Arizona the Arizona State Board of Nursing has develop an advisory


References: Berghs, M., Dierckx, B., & Gastmans, C. (2013). The complexity of nurses’ attitudes toward euthanasia: a review of the literature. Journal of Medical Ethics, 31. Retrieved from www.jmedethics.com Brewer, J. K., & Ridenour, J. (2010). Advisory Opinion Palliative Sedation AT END OF LIFE. Retrieved from Http://www.azbn.gov Lawson, M. (2011). Palliative Sedation. Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing, 15 (6)(15). Nevidjon, B. M., & Mayer, D. K. (2012). Death is Not an Option, How You Die Is. Oncology Nursing, 30 (3), 148-152. Retrieved from http://www.medscape.com Olsen, M., Swetz, K., & Mueller, P. (2010). Ethical Decision Making with End-of-Life Care: Palliative Sedation and Withholding or Withdrawing Life-Sustaining Treatments. Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 85 (10), 949-954.
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