E33: Palliative Ethics

A comforting gesture as a hand holds another in a hospital setting, symbolizing care and support.

Course Overview

CE Hours

3 CE Credits

Course Description

Palliative Ethics examines the ethical principles and professional standards that guide health care providers in delivering compassionate, dignified care to patients with terminal illness. Drawing from the foundational values of medical ethics and the realities of palliative care practice, this course explores the six values of medical ethics, the integration of ethical principles into palliative care decision-making, patient rights to truth telling and pain relief, end-of-life care planning including advance directives and DNR policies, the legal dimensions of euthanasia, and the ethical challenges of conducting palliative care research. Learners will develop the ability to describe the work of palliative care, identify its ethical issues, and plan for problems involving palliative ethics.

Course Learning Objectives

At the end of this course, learners will be able to:

  1. Describe the historical development of medical ethics from Hippocrates through the Nuremberg Code, Declaration of Geneva, and Declaration of Helsinki
  2. Identify the six values of medical ethics autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, justice, dignity, and truthfulness and explain how each applies to palliative care
  3. Explain the ethical issues that arise when deciding to withhold or withdraw treatment in terminal illness
  4. Describe the ethical obligations of palliative care teams in truth telling, communication, and advance care planning
  5. Explain why pain relief is a core ethical duty in medicine and identify barriers to adequate pain management
  6. Define the principle of double effect and explain its application in terminal sedation
  7. Describe the ethical and legal dimensions of euthanasia in the context of palliative care
  8. Identify the unique ethical challenges of conducting research with dying patients and explain how to balance protection with the need for evidence-based care

Course Format and Faculty

Course Format:

Online linked resources and lectures available anytime, 24/7. Includes one multiple-choice exam taken at the end of the course. A passing grade of 75% is required. Upon passing, learners may print their certificate immediately.

Course Developers and Instructors:

R. Klimes, PhD, MPH (Johns Hopkins University) is a scholar and author in health-related research, health behaviors, ethics, end-of-life care, and overall wellness. He has written numerous research reports and books and has held academic and leadership roles in higher education and public health internationally.

Course Time:

Approximately 3 hours for online study, test taking, course evaluation feedback, and certificate printing.