European Association for Palliative Care (EAPC) recommended framework for the use of sedation in palliative care

TLDR

Sedation is a vital therapy for selected palliative patients, yet its use must be carefully managed to avoid harmful or unethical practices that could damage clinician credibility and the field. The purpose is to provide procedural guidelines that educate providers, establish best‑practice standards, and affirm that palliative sedation is an ethical, accepted intervention when appropriately applied. The mechanism is a 10‑point framework developed from existing guidelines, literature, and extensive peer review to guide sedation practice.

Abstract

The European Association for Palliative Care (EAPC) considers sedation to be an important and necessary therapy in the care of selected palliative care patients with otherwise refractory distress. Prudent application of this approach requires due caution and good clinical practice. Inattention to potential risks and problematic practices can lead to harmful and unethical practice which may undermine the credibility and reputation of responsible clinicians and institutions as well as the discipline of palliative medicine more generally. Procedural guidelines are helpful to educate medical providers, set standards for best practice, promote optimal care and convey the important message to staff, patients and families that palliative sedation is an accepted, ethical practice when used in appropriate situations. EAPC aims to facilitate the development of such guidelines by presenting a 10-point framework that is based on the pre-existing guidelines and literature and extensive peer review.