End of Life Decision Could Include Terminal Sedation

The New York Times recently featured a fascinating article on terminal sedation:  

• Terminal sedation is a form of palliative care where very ill, near-death patients are given sedative drugs so that the patient’s final days are spent sedated and free of pain or discomfort.  
• Some argue that terminal sedation hastens death and is thus a form of slow euthanasia.
• According to the article, terminal sedation is “widely used,” although doctors agree that it should not become a routine procedure.

For more information on the challenges presented by terminal sedation, including ethical, guideline, and family decision issues, see Anemona Hartocollis, Hard Choice for a Comfortable Death: Sedation, NY Times, Dec. 26, 2009.