Palliative care is now not just about the end stage of diseases like cancer and motor-neurone disease, but includes all illnesses that are currently non-curable and life -limiting. Because of these changes in the specialty a whole range of new ethical issues have occurred and will continue to do so.

This book brings together the knowledge and experience of a diverse team of professionals. The second edition has been completely revised and updated by the original authors and also contains fresh contributions from new authors.

It gives the reader a thorough grounding on ethical issues in palliative care, whilst acting as a springboard for further discussion, research and contemplation. Theoretical discussion leads on to practical components and a section on teaching palliative care.

Ethical Issues in Palliative Care is a vital reference for all medical and healthcare professionals who care for dying patients and especially those who work in palliative care. It is also useful for students, those involved in spiritual or pastoral care, members of ethics committees and policy makers and shapers.

‘This revised edition reflects fully the changes that have taken place in palliative care practice and in ethical thinking over a relatively short period. The boundary between ‘palliative’ and ‘curative’ care will continuously rearrange itself in line with increasing possibilities in clinical care. The book’s strength is that it encourages the reader to consider a particular situation and to identify the process by which a course of action is reached. In this book’s updated form, new questions are asked and the outline of debates which may follow in the future is left for the reader to take forward. If that takes place, this book will fully have served its purpose.’
Ian Ainsworth Smith, in his foreword

* Why is the study of ethics important?

* Critical decision-making: moving from theory to practice

* Curing and caring

* Giving it straight: the limits of honesty and deception

* Advocacy and palliative care

* How informed can consent be?

* Euthanasia: slippery slope or mercy killing?

* Teaching ethics in the practice

'Useful. Interesting. There are more questions than answers, but that is what is required to help individuals and teams to make good clinical decisions.' INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR HOSPICES AND PALLIATIVE CARE

'Its range is wide, and its contributors include well-known authors in the fields of palliative care and medical ethics. The book is interesting: welcome in libraries and in practice.' JOURNAL OF ADVANCED NURSING