Ethical Issues – Pain Management

Ethical Issues – Pain Management

• Fear of hastening death by administering analgesics 
• Requests for assisted suicide
• Use of placebo in pain assessment and treatment
• Gerontologic consideration
  • Persistent pain is a problem associated with physical disability and psychosocial problems
  • 50% to 80% of older adults are estimated to have chronic pain problems
  • Most common painful conditions
    • Musculoskeletal 

• • • • Osteoarthritis 
      • Low back pain
  • Chronic pain often results in 
    • Depression
    • Sleep disturbance
    • Decreased mobility 
    • Decreased health care utilization 
    • Physical and social role dysfunction.