THE PRACTICE OF PALLIATIVE CARE IN HEALTHCARE: ETHICAL CHALLENGES AND INTERDISCIPLINARY INTERVENTIONS

Abstract

Palliative care is a fundamental approach in healthcare, aimed at promoting the quality of life of patients and families facing life-threatening illnesses. This study aimed to analyze the practice of palliative care in healthcare, with an emphasis on ethical challenges and interdisciplinary interventions described in the scientific literature. This is an integrative review, conducted through searches in the MEDLINE/PubMed, LILACS, SciELO, CINAHL, and BDENF databases, using controlled descriptors from the DeCS and MeSH vocabularies, combined with Boolean operators. Studies published between 2014 and 2024, in Portuguese, English, and Spanish, that addressed ethical aspects and interdisciplinary action in palliative care were included. The analysis of the studies allowed the identification of thematic categories related to ethical dilemmas in end-of-life decision-making, organizational barriers to the implementation of palliative care, and the relevance of interdisciplinary interventions in improving the quality of care. The results showed that the absence of clear institutional guidelines, insufficient training in bioethics, and the fragmentation of care compromise the effectiveness of palliative practices. On the other hand, the integrated work of multidisciplinary teams proved essential for the proper management of symptoms, the strengthening of communication, and the humanization of care. It is concluded that the consolidation of palliative care in health care demands addressing ethical challenges, strengthening interdisciplinarity, and investing in continuing education and public policies that guarantee ethical, comprehensive, and patient-centered care.