Pain Management at the End of Life and the Principle of Double Effect: A Jewish Perspective

Abstract

Controlling the pain of patients at the end of life can be challenging both clinically and ethically. One ethical obstacle arises when analgesia has the potential to hasten the death of the patient, thus, invoking the principle of “double effect” to resolve such dilemmas. This article will develop, analyze, and apply that principle from a Jewish perspective. It is this writer's opinion, that pain management can be administered effectively from a Jewish perspective in most clinical scenarios.

Keywords:

• End of Life Care