As palliative care is developing in many European countries, it has become apparent that it still poses a major ethical challenge. The practice of palliative care requires ethical sensitivity and understanding. At the same time, the very existence of palliative care requires ethical clarification. Ethics and palliative care confront several important issues: the good death, sedation at the end of life, requests for euthanasia, futile treatment and the role of research. However, palliative care appears uncertain of its goals and there is evidence that its ethical basis is changing. Similarly, the moral issues of palliative care are only partially served by the four principles of contemporary bioethics. This volume, with contributions from clinicians, ethicists, philosophers and sociologists, presents a picture of palliative care ethics in the European context. It should be of interest to those involved in the provision and management of palliative care services, as well as to students and researchers.
