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Palliative sedation in Latin America: Survey on practices and attitudes

Abstract:

Introduction: Palliative sedation (PS) is the subject of ethical and legal debates worldwide. Statistics of its utilization are available in developed countries; however, in Latin America, these data are scarcely known. The purpose of this research was to determine the practices and attitudes of palliativists in Latin America towards PS. Materials and methods: Data was collected during the Latin American Congress on Palliative Care in Isla Margarita, Venezuela. A total of 89 professionals participated in this survey. Results: It was found that the use of PS was positively associated with being a physician and being members of a palliative care (PC) group. On the other hand, it was found that being a psychologist and identifying barriers toward PS limited its utilization. Discussion: The findings of this study support the need to establish clinical guidelines for its utilization and to educate other specialists on end-of-life care approaches, and the need to develop PC programs in acute care hospitals in Latin America. © 2007 Springer-Verlag.