Decision-making in palliative care practice and the need for moral deliberation: a qualitative study

The development of palliative care is increasing the interest in the moral problems that arise in the practice of palliative care. It is not clear how caregivers deal with these moral problems. In this article, we focus on the decision whether to continue treatment or to withhold it, and discuss the way caregivers deal with this question amongst themselves and in communication or consultation with the patient. We 2 look at moral deliberation, the process of identifying the crucial arguments for this decision in palliative care. (c) 2004 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.