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<article xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" dtd-version="1.0" article-type="general-medicine" lang="en">
  <front>
    <journal-meta>
      <journal-id journal-id-type="publisher">JOHS</journal-id>
      <journal-id journal-id-type="nlm-ta">Journ of Health Scien</journal-id>
      <journal-title-group>
        <journal-title>Journal of HealthCare Sciences</journal-title>
        <abbrev-journal-title abbrev-type="pubmed">Journ of Health Scien</abbrev-journal-title>
      </journal-title-group>
      <issn pub-type="ppub">2231-2196</issn>
      <issn pub-type="opub">0975-5241</issn>
      <publisher>
        <publisher-name>Radiance Research Academy</publisher-name>
      </publisher>
    </journal-meta>
    <article-meta>
      <article-id pub-id-type="publisher-id">360</article-id>
      <article-id pub-id-type="doi">http://dx.doi.org/10.52533/JOHS.2024.41239</article-id>
      <article-id pub-id-type="doi-url"/>
      <article-categories>
        <subj-group subj-group-type="heading">
          <subject>General Medicine</subject>
        </subj-group>
      </article-categories>
      <title-group>
        <article-title>The Role of Caregivers in Ethical Decision-Making for Palliative Care&#13;
</article-title>
      </title-group>
      <contrib-group>
        <contrib contrib-type="author">
          <name>
            <surname>Alrajeh</surname>
            <given-names>Hanan Khalil</given-names>
          </name>
        </contrib>
        <contrib contrib-type="author">
          <name>
            <surname>Alshammari</surname>
            <given-names>Faisal Dubayyan</given-names>
          </name>
        </contrib>
        <contrib contrib-type="author">
          <name>
            <surname>Alenazi</surname>
            <given-names>Mansour Menwi</given-names>
          </name>
        </contrib>
        <contrib contrib-type="author">
          <name>
            <surname>Alanazi</surname>
            <given-names>Hamad Qutaysh</given-names>
          </name>
        </contrib>
        <contrib contrib-type="author">
          <name>
            <surname>Alghamdi</surname>
            <given-names>Mohammed Ahmed</given-names>
          </name>
        </contrib>
        <contrib contrib-type="author">
          <name>
            <surname>Alafghani</surname>
            <given-names>SaifAlislam Abdulmajeed</given-names>
          </name>
        </contrib>
      </contrib-group>
      <pub-date pub-type="ppub">
        <day>30</day>
        <month>12</month>
        <year>2024</year>
      </pub-date>
      <volume>4</volume>
      <issue>12</issue>
      <fpage>945</fpage>
      <lpage>950</lpage>
      <permissions>
        <copyright-statement>This article is copyright of Popeye Publishing, 2009</copyright-statement>
        <copyright-year>2009</copyright-year>
        <license license-type="open-access" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">
          <license-p>This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) Licence. You may share and adapt the material, but must give appropriate credit to the source, provide a link to the licence, and indicate if changes were made.</license-p>
        </license>
      </permissions>
      <abstract>
        <p>Caregivers play a pivotal role in the ethical decision-making process for patients receiving palliative care, particularly when patients can no longer articulate their preferences. This process is complex, influenced by emotional, cultural, and religious factors, especially in Muslim societies, where life is regarded as sacred and medical decisions must align with ethical and spiritual principles. Challenges arise in interpreting patient autonomy, balancing quality of life against aggressive treatments, and addressing caregiver emotions. Decisions such as Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) orders or withholding futile interventions are often fraught with moral distress, as caregivers navigate the tension between prolonging life and minimizing suffering. Empathetic and culturally sensitive communication by healthcare providers is essential to guide caregivers through these dilemmas. Transparent discussions about the implications of aggressive interventions versus palliative care can help families understand the benefits of prioritizing comfort and dignity. Collaborative approaches, such as shared decision-making frameworks, involve caregivers in care planning, ensuring their input aligns with the patient’s values and reduces decisional conflict. Facilitated family meetings and structured communication further support caregivers in making informed choices, fostering trust and easing the emotional burden. The integration of caregiver perspectives enhances palliative care outcomes by preserving the patient’s dignity and fostering meaningful family connections during the end-of-life period. Addressing cultural and spiritual considerations reinforces the importance of aligning medical care with ethical values, particularly in contexts where practices such as euthanasia are not permissible. This approach underscores the need for a balance between medical realities and the emotional and spiritual needs of both patients and caregivers. By adopting compassionate, patient-centered strategies, healthcare providers can ensure that end-of-life care reflects a holistic understanding of patient and family needs, fostering peace and dignity during life’s final moments.&#13;
</p>
      </abstract>
      <kwd-group>
        <kwd>caregivers</kwd>
        <kwd> ethical decision-making</kwd>
        <kwd> palliative care</kwd>
        <kwd> cultural sensitivity</kwd>
        <kwd> patient dignity</kwd>
      </kwd-group>
    </article-meta>
  </front>
</article>