In any case, from an ethical point of view,
prolonging life perse, even through good palliative care, should
not be regarded as an absolute goal, especially if it is not the main
wish of the patient.
On the other hand palliative care, including palliative
proportionate sedation, is repeatedly
, in term of its
efficacy, with a constant albeit minor rate of failure to relieve
physical or psychological suffering and distress, and is even
sometimes accused to prolong unwanted lives, a kind of medical
practice which might be not less futile and disproportionate than
futile intensive care. In any case, from an ethical point of view,
prolonging life per se, even through good palliative care, should
not be regarded as an absolute goal, especially if it is not the main
wish of the patient.