Euthanasia in palliative care journals

With the growth of palliative care services, interest in moral issues also seems to be growing . The controversial issue of euthanasia significantly provokes moral reflection on the care dying-patients. This article presents an analysis of the moral issue of euthanasia, as it is discussed by the palliative care community in the professional journals of Initially, the analysis will focus on describing the characteristics of the publications about euthanasia, and the attitudes expressed in the articles towards this practice. Second, attention will be paid to the description of the uses of the term euthanasia in the various articles and, also how frequently such uses occur. Third, the various arguments in support for against a place for euthanasia in palliative care will be discussed. place for euthanasia in palliative care will be discussed. (C) U.S. Cancer Pain Relief Committee, 2002.