The Use of Palliative Sedation to Treat Existential Suffering: A Scoping Review on Practices, Ethical Considerations, and Guidelines

CONTEXT: Though palliative sedation has been recognized as an acceptable practice in Canada for many years now, there is a lack of clinical research and guidelines pertaining to its use as a treatment of existential refractory symptoms in the terminally ill. OBJECTIVES: This scoping review aimed to survey the literature surrounding palliative sedation and existential suffering and to inform research, policy, and practice.