[End-of-life sedation--definition and clinical guidelines needed]

Abstract

End-of-life sedation is not well defined in clinical medicine. The Swedish Society of Medicine, Delegation for Medical Ethics, arranged a Nordic expert workshop to discuss issues of terminology, indications, information and consent, follow up and teaching. It was concluded that the following issues must be part of the decision-making process: the diagnosis and prognosis must be correct, all other treatment options including psychological and existential support must have been tried, there must be consensus between the patient, the family and the staff about the situation and the proposed treatment. These discussions will be followed by clinical guidelines issued by the Society.