La sédation pour détresse chez l'adulte dans des situations spécifiques et complexes

Most authors reserve deep permanent sedation to death for terminally ill patients whose death can be expected to occur within hours or days. Intermittent or temporary sedation can be proposed before the terminal phase for patients suffering from a symptom particularly difficult to treat. The question of the role of sedation can be raised in two types of extremes situations: following a decision to limit or discontinue life-sustaining treatment, and in a situation of suffering considered to be refractory to treatment. This article presents the proposals of a working group examining the question of sedation in certain situations termed specific and complex. The work was based on the Formalized Expert Opinion method: a steering committee analyzed the international literature and established recommendations. These were submitted to a consensus group for criticism.