Palliative care physicians' decision-making about palliative sedation for existential suffering: A Belgian nationwide qualitative study.

Objectives: This study aims to provide an in-depth understanding of the content and process of decision-making about palliative sedation for existential suffering (PS-ES) as perceived by Belgian palliative care physicians.

Methods: This Belgian nationwide qualitative study follows a . We conducted semistructured interviews with 25 palliative care physicians working in 19 Belgian hospital-based palliative care units and 4 stand-alone hospices.

Ethics of sedation for existential suffering: palliative medicine physician perceptions - qualitative study.

Objectives: Palliative sedation for existential suffering (PS-ES) is considered a controversial practice to control refractory suffering at the end of life. This study aims to explore Belgian palliative care physicians' perceptions regarding the ethics of PS-ES.

Methods: This nationwide qualitative study follows a Grounded Theory approach.