Sédation en phase terminale, sédation terminale, euthanasie : peut-on éviter la confusion ?

In France, the 04/22/2005 law so called “Leonetti's” law - controlling the end of life (neither senseless obstinacy nor euthanasia) and advocating palliative cares (relief of pain, patients and their families' support) is till little-know by public and medical staff - according to the End of Life National Observatory (2011) and the recent Sicard's report (2012). This ignorance explains that most French people favor euthanasia - according to the surveys. The educational stakes remain high to make people discover the exiting means of relief. Sedation is one of these when others failed. However, the last debates (Sicard's report, National Consultative Ethic Committee's text) point out confusion around the function of the sedation. Is it the alleviation (the terminally ill) or searching for the appearance of the death? When the goal of the sedation is to induce the patient's death and no longer to sooth the terminally ill, is it possible to make the difference with euthanasia. To clarify that point, the SFPS (support and palliative care French Society [SFAP]) and scientific researches give recommendations.