Terminalna sedacja - między opieką paliatywną a eutanazją

Abstract

The aim of this article is a presentation of the problem of terminal sedation as a special medical procedure, an alternative to euthanasia and physician assisted death. Terminal sedation is consist in narcotizing the patient in the last stage of terminal disease, sometimes with discontinued nutrition and hydration until death. The goal of this procedure is to eliminate pain and suffering without causing death of the patient. The opponents of this method claim that terminal sedation is a form of euthanasia. The supporters see the difference because the intention of physician must relieve unbearable suffering when the other procedures are useless. The terminal sedation has to be last resort in palliative care and the decision making process must be very careful. In case of applying this radical method the basis should be always the informed consent of the patient and the respect for the dying person.

Keywords

• terminal sedation
• palliative care
• end of life
• end of suffering
• medical assisted death
• euthanasia