Abstract ♦ (Key Messages)
• Respect for patient autonomy was identified as the main principle by healthcare professionals when deciding on palliative sedation; however, our results suggest that it was not put into practice in some clinical situations.
• Ethical issues related to palliative sedation can be managed more efficiently if a good relationship is built through continuous empathic communication between patients, family members and healthcare professionals, as part of a process.
• Guidelines and protocols appear to help and support healthcare professionals in applying ethical principles in complex clinical cases.
• Healthcare professionals appreciated the opportunity to discuss ethical issues and most of them supported the introduction and application of moral case deliberation in clinical practice.