Objectives

1) To review the current state of the art on the administration of palliative sedation, including the terminology used, through a comprehensive review of the literature and national surveys.

2) To develop a multi-centre, observational, international study of sedation practices in five palliative care centres.

3) To conduct a multi-centre qualitativecase study in five European centres to improve understanding of palliative sedation practices from the perspective of doctors, nurses and family caregivers.

4) To conduct a moral case deliberation in 16 clinical centres in Europe to investigate clinical decision-making on refractory symptoms and proportional palliative sedation.

5) Conduct a cost-consequence analysis and formulate recommendations for development of policies for the proportionate use of palliative sedation.

6) Review the current Europeanframework for palliative sedation using Delphi methodology.

7) Develop and deliver an online course educational to help doctors, patients, relatives and interested persons to improve the understanding of the use of palliative sedation for refractory symptoms, including medical and ethical aspects.

8) Disseminate the messages core topic of project, using a dedicated, timely and fully integrated approach transfer and exchange of knowledge , which will also include the publication of a free downloadable e-book.