The assisted suicide movement has done much to sow fear and confusion about palliative sedation, sometimes referring to this proper palliative practice as “terminal sedation,” as if the intent is to kill rather than ease suffering. A new study, however, belies this notion. Having reviewed the available literature, the authors of “Palliative Sedation: A Review of the Research Literature” (Journal of Pain and Symptom Management Vol. 36 No. 3 September 2008—no link available), come to an important conclusion about whether palliative sedation is “slow motion euthanasia.” Their conclusion: It is not. From the report:
This, in combination with research findings showing that survival of sedated patients is not shorter than that of non sedated patients, suggests that palliative sedation has no proven life-shortening effects. This refutes the argument that palliative sedation is a form of “slow euthanasia.” Although more prospective research on this matter would be needed to corroborate this assertion, it will never give a definite answer. Performing a randomized study is the only way to prove that palliative sedation has no life-shortening effect, but for obvious ethical reasons, this will never be performed.
The study shows that much work remains to be done to determine when palliative sedation is proper and to hone technique. But demonstrating that palliative sedation is not terminal sedation is an important service. Sedating when needed is a proper medical treatment, not killing. This study should at least put the false meme of terminal sedation pushed by the euthanasia crowd to rest.
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