Palliative sedation in Latin America: survey on practices and attitudes

Introduction Palliative sedation (PS) is the subject of ethical and legal debates worldwide. Statistics of its utilization are available in developed countries; however, in Latin America, these data are scarcely known. The purpose of this research was to determine the practices and attitudes of palliativists in Latin America towards PS. Materials and methods Data was collected during the Latin American Congress on Palliative Care in Isla Margarita, Venezuela. A total of 89 professionals participated in this survey. Results It was found that the use of PS was positively associated with being a physician and being members of a palliative care (PC) group. On the other hand, it was found that being a psychologist and identifying barriers toward PS limited its utilization. Discussion The findings of this study support the need to establish clinical guidelines for its utilization and to educate other specialists on end-of-life care approaches, and the need to develop PC programs in acute care hospitals in Latin America.