Subject: The subject of this conference will be a critical analysis of continuous sedation at the end of life from an ethical, a clinical, and a legal perspective

Continuous sedation at the end of life is a relatively new end of life practice whereby a physician uses sedatives to reduce or take away the consciousness of a patient until death follows. The practice is often accompanied with a withdrawal of all artificial hydration and nutrition. Recent data suggest that this practice occurs frequently, for example in Belgium, The Netherlands and the UK. The practice, however, raises many issues with regard to the need for regulations, the clinical implications, as well as the ethical aspects. Too frequently, however, these debates occur separated from each other.

This conference will consist of a bringing together of known international researchers on end-of-life issues in general, and on continuous sedation in specific. The goal is to acquire profound and rich insights into a practice that is currently very unclear. The ongoing rising incidence of continuous sedation makes a reflection of this kind highly pertinent.

Speakers:
-Professor BATTIN, Margaret (Department of Philosophy and Division of Medical Ethics, Utah, US)
- Professor GASTMANS, Chris (Centre for Biomedical Ethics and Law, KU Leuven, Belgium)
- Professor HOLM, Søren (School of Law, University of Manchester, UK)
- Professor JONES, David (Director, Anscombe Bioethics Centre, Oxford, UK)
- Professor VAN DELDEN, Johannes (Julius Centre for Health Sciences and Primary Care, Universitair Medisch Centrum Utrecht, The Netherlands)
- Professor MORTIER, Eric (Vakgroep Anesthesiologie, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Belgium)
-Professor, PORTA-SALES, Josep (Institut Català d'Oncologia, Barcelona, Spain)
-Dr. SYKES, Nigel (Medical Director, St. Christopher's Hospice, Londen, UK)
-Professor SEYMOUR, Jane (School of Nursing, Midwifery and Physiotherapy, The University of Nottingham, UK)
-Dr. RIETJENS, Judith (Department of Public Health , Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands & End of life Care Research Group, Department of Medical Sociology, Free University of Brussels VUB))
-Ms. DELBEKE, Evelien (Department of University of Antwerp, Belgium)
-Prof. LEGEMAATE, Johan (Faculty of Law, VU University Amsterdam, The Netherlands)

More information? Contact Kasper Raus Kasper.Raus@UGent.be

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