What are the ethical dilemmas in chronic pain management?
In a survey, 1105 members of APS & AAPM were asked about ethical dilemmas they faced in chronic pain management6. The most common is the pain management at the end of life. The common denominator in this survey was the ethical dilemma of under treatment vulnerable population such as the dying, the elderly and children. Special reference is made to the under treatment of persistent pain, sickle cell pain, and pain in those with psychiatric disorders or addiction problems. The same survey revealed that there is great desire for guidance through ethical dilemmas in pain management6. Specialist in pain management are guided by the ethics that are appropriate of the profession in general, but some issues of the particular relevance to the speciality also occur .There fore it is essential to increase the awareness among our own community and provide ethical education & guidelines, and also set the professional standards.
