Problemas éticos al final de la vida: ¿todo es eutanasia?

Bioethics helps to resolve ethical problems raised by clinical practice. Knowledge of this discipline is required by personnel in all specialities. End-of-life decision-making is complex and is further hampered by confusion surrounding the incorrect use of the term euthanasia. The present article defines euthanasia, assisted suicide, withholding or withdrawal of life-sustaining therapies, treatment refusal or withdrawal of consent and palliative sedation to elucidate the differences among these scenarios with a view to aiding the approach to conflictive decisions.