@article {Latimer859, author = {E. Latimer}, title = {Caring for seriously ill and dying patients: the philosophy and ethics}, volume = {144}, number = {7}, pages = {859--864}, year = {1991}, publisher = {CMAJ}, abstract = {The care of seriously ill and dying patients necessitates a philosophic and ethical basis, without which unacceptable patterns of practice may develop. Several problems are described: inadequate or unskilled communication of information, withdrawal by the physician, patient labelling and poor health care. Palliative care must be based on a philosophy that acknowledges the inherent worth and dignity of each person. In addition, it must take place within the framework of four ethical principles: autonomy, beneficience, nonmaleficience and justice. The first and most important of these is the need to regard patients as unique people with a right to compassion, gentle truth, autonomy in decision-making and excellence in physicial and psychospiritual care. Beneficence obliges us not only to relieve suffering but also to enhance the patient{\textquoteright}s quality of life whenever possible. Nonmaleficence and justice require allocation of sufficient health care resources of the type necessary to provide high-quality care and prevent patients from coming to harm.}, issn = {0820-3946}, URL = {https://www.cmaj.ca/content/144/7/859}, eprint = {https://www.cmaj.ca/content}, journal = {CMAJ} }