Abstract
The chapter describes ethical problems of chronic non-cancer pain therapy. The first part focuses on defining the term of "ethics"; subsequently, we define medical ethics and the related necessity of teaching ethics in the course of education of physicians specialized in pain therapy.
Furthermore, the chapter specifies ethical values and ethical decision-making applied in the treatment of chronic non-cancer pain. Some ethical dilemmas are offered from the point of view of the physician and the patient, as well as ethical principles of chronic non-cancer pain therapy.
All dilemmas are intertwined. The purpose of this chapter is to provide some ethical views, considerations, dilemmas and stimuli that may help to effectively treat patients with chronic non-cancer pain with honor.
The therapy of pain on a high professional level, but also empathetic, legal therapy focused on ethical aspects will have a significantly positive impact on therapy success in the patient with chronic non-cancer pain. The chapter also emphasizes that individual ethical opinions of every patient will also reflect how the patient responds to various types of therapy, how he or she cooperates with the team and adheres to therapeutic recommendations, and what kind of benefit it will have for him or her in terms of understanding a sense of life, even if it is associated with suffering and chronic pain.