Abstract
Determining the effective scope of medical and nursing care for terminally ill patients in the terminal state of an incurable disease, or for patients with an irreversible disorder of the integrity of organ functions, is a complicated process in which not only health professionals participate, but also the patient himself and his family members, possibly even his closest friends. The basis of the palliative care plan is grounded in the physician's decision along with the patient's expressed wishes, including respect for an advance statement about previously expressed wishes, beliefs and values regarding any patient's future care, or on the statement of his legal representative.
Numbers of ethical dilemmas arising during the decision-making process on palliative care, as well as in the course of providing palliative care itself need to be properly addressed. The ethical case deliberation by means of ethical principles is not only helpful in the decision-making of health professionals, but also contributes to the quality of the daily medical and nursing practice provided to terminally ill patients.
The paper deals with some ethical dilemmas of palliative care in connection with ethical principles.