Ethical and Legal Issues in Palliative Care

ObjectivesTo provide foundational knowledge about approaches to ethical decision-making that arise as part of palliative care of cancer patients and their families.Data SourceJournal articles, research reports, state and federal regulations, professional codes of ethics and state of the science papers.ConclusionMore and more, cancer deaths occur after a long progressive illness, requiring ongoing goals of care discussion and a focus on joint decision-making. No matter how diverse the community or how advanced the healthcare setting, the needs, preferences, and values of the patient and family will continue to be at the core of palliative care.Implications for Nursing PracticeThe increasingly complex healthcare environment makes it essential that nurses have an understanding of medical ethics and relevant federal and state laws so that this knowledge can be applied to the many issues arising in palliative and end-of-life care.