Clearer Thinking On Sedation

28^th January 2010

Prospero House,
241 Borough High Street,
London SE1 1GA

The use of sedation in end of life care is often misunderstood and controversial. Definitions are not consistent; terminology includes “terminal sedation”, “palliative sedation”, and “continuous deep sedation.” Are these the same or different? There is often uncertainty about the circumstances in which it is appropriate to use sedation at the end of life.

This conference presented evidence about the use of sedation in current practice and provided those attending with practical guidance about when, how and why to use sedation in end of life care. NCPC used this conference to inform the development of written guidance on the use of sedation in end of life care.

This conference:

• Presented evidence on the use of sedation in end of life care
• Provided practical guidance about when, how and why to use sedation in end of life care
• Considered the use of sedation in different settings
• Used round table scenarios to identify challenges in making and communicating decisions about sedation

Findings from a recent survey on the use of sedation in end of life care by UK doctors

124KB

Professor Clive Seale
Professor of Medical Sociology, Queen Mary, University of London

Practice with sedation in other countries

452KB

Professor Jane Seymour
Sue Ryder Care Professor of Palliative and End of Life Studies, University of Nottingham

Findings on sedation from the National Care of the Dying Audit

241KB

Professor John Ellershaw
Professor of Palliative Medicine University of Liverpool
Director of the Marie Curie Palliative Care Institute

What should we use sedation for?

595KB

Dr Teresa Tate
Consultant in Palliative Medicine, Barts and the London NHS Trust &
Medical Adviser, Marie Curie Cancer Care

How should we do sedation?

1.7MB

Dr Richard Partridge
Consultant in Palliative Medicine, Peterborough Foundation Trust

Why do we use sedation?

497KB

Richard Huxtable
Senior Lecturer & Deputy Director, Centre for Ethics in Medicine, Bristol University

A care of the elderly perspective

166KB

Dr Eileen Burns
Consultant Physician, Medicine for the Elderly, Leeds Teaching Hospital Trust

Sedation in primary & community care – the challenges

83KB

Maggie Bisset
Nurse Consultant in Palliative Care, Camden Provider Services, London