Bioethics applied to palliative care: a public health issue

Abstract

Palliative care is a set of actions aimed at improving patients’ and family members’ quality of life when no curative treatment is available. It encompasses physical, psychological, spiritual and social care, understanding death as a natural process whose outcome should be accelerated or delayed. Of the 131 articles on bioethics and palliative care published in the last five years selected, this integrative review analyzes 10. These studies highlight the importance of bioethics for palliative care, addressing themes such as definitions, death, end of life and the need for a multi-professional interdisciplinary team. Spirituality also plays a relevant role, putting the patient and family members as central to decisions made based on effective communication. Palliative care aims to provide comfort, dignity and comprehensive support for patients with advanced illnesses, allowing them the maximum quality of life possible.