The palliative care experiences of adults with learning disabilities/intellectual disability: The implications for ethical decision making

This paper presents some of the ethical challenges facing services supporting adults with learning disabilities/intellectual disability with life-limiting conditions and arises from a qualitative investigation of the preparation for. and responses to their deaths. The study highlights the problems and differential responses of health and social care professionals to consent and ostensible treatment refusal and gives rise to concern that the principles promoting people's choices are in danger of being distorted to justify giving up too soon or too easily. The paper presents ideas about how health and social care professionals might work toward better outcomes.