Palliative Sedation and Euthanasia

The terminal illness along its course presents numerous symptoms and symptomatic treatments, whose objective is to alleviate pain and improve the well-being and quality of life of the patient. Among those treatments is the palliative sedation, which aims to relieve suffering in the last days or hours of life. Apart from the palliative sedation we find in some countries, and when the patient decides it, euthanasia, which puts an end to the life of the terminal patient with his consent to be able to give him the dignified death he desires. The present work aims to show the difference between both concepts and the medical and ethical criteria on which they are based, as well as to know the current situation of our country and the rest of Europe regarding euthanasia.