Characteristics Associated with Survival in Patients Receiving Continuous Deep Sedation in a Hospice Care Unit

ObjectivesVoluntarily stopping eating and drinking (VSED) could be regarded as a patients’ own non-treatment decision that hastens death, which involves patients voluntarily forgoing food and liquid until death. The aims of this study were to investigate the experience of home hospice physicians and palliative care specialists who care for patients during VSED in Japan, and their opinions on continuous deep sedation (CDS) as a means to relieve patient symptoms during VSED.Methods219 home hospice physicians and 695 palliative care specialists across Japan were surveyed by mail questionnaire in 2016.ResultsA total of 571 (62%) responses were analysed. A total of 185 (32%) had experience of patients who selected VSED. In response to questions about CDS to provide relief to patients during VSED, the number of physicians who replied that CDS was acceptable was 88 (15%).ConclusionsIn Japan, 32% of physicians surveyed replied that they had experience of caring for patients during VSED in a clinical setting and 15% considered CDS acceptable.

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The Community Speaks: Continuous Deep Sedation as Caregiving Versus Physician-Assisted Suicide as Killing

The American Journal of Bioethics ◽

10.1080/15265161.2011.578468 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 11 (6) ◽

pp. 65-66 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Carol L. Powers ◽

Paul C. McLean

Keyword(s):

Assisted Suicide ◽

Deep Sedation ◽

Physician Assisted Suicide ◽

Continuous Deep Sedation

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Control Measures for Continuous Deep Sedation Until Death: A Framing Analysis of the Views of Physicians

Qualitative Health Research ◽

10.1177/10497323211037648 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 104973232110376

Author(s):

Stijn Vissers ◽

Lenzo Robijn ◽

Sigrid Dierickx ◽

Freddy Mortier ◽

Joachim Cohen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Deep Sedation ◽

Self Regulation ◽

Interesting Case ◽

Control Measures ◽

External Control ◽

Framing Analysis ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Continuous Deep Sedation ◽

Sound Control ◽

Professional Self

Physicians have been subject to increasing external control to improve their medical practice, and scholars have theorized extensively about their opposition to such control. However, little empirical attention has been paid to the views and reasoning that lie behind this opposition. An in-depth understanding is necessary for enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of external controls, and continuous deep sedation until death (CDS) is an interesting case in this regard. This study aims to explore how physicians frame control measures for CDS. We conducted 47 semi-structured interviews with Belgian physicians in 2019. A qualitative framing analysis was performed to analyze their views and reasoning. This study reveals that physicians approach CDS practice and control measures with different emphases. Controlling by mechanisms of professional self-regulation and state governance are put forward as appropriate means to improve CDS practice. Policymakers should take into consideration physicians’ frames to develop sound control measures.

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