Essentials Book 6: Ethical and Legal Practice 

Navigating ethical and legal complexity in serious illness care 

Clinical ethics and law shape everyday decisions at the bedside. The updated edition of Ethical and Legal Practice translates foundational ethical principles and evolving legal frameworks into clear, practical guidance clinicians can apply with confidence in hospice and palliative care settings. 

From consent and decisional capacity to the withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment, palliative sedation, and medical aid in dying, this book equips interdisciplinary teams to navigate complex, high-stakes situations with clarity, compassion, and clinical integrity, while honoring patient autonomy, cultural values, and jurisdictional requirements. 

New in This Edition 

• Expanded and updated coverage of medical aid in dying (MAID), including clinician responsibilities and state-specific legal considerations 
• Detailed ventilator withdrawal and HFNC de-escalation protocols 
• Updated ethical frameworks and clinical guidance for palliative sedation 
• Enhanced focus on risk management, documentation, and legal compliance 
• Expanded discussion of cultural and religious considerations in end-of-life decision-making 
• Exploration of emerging technology ethics, including AI, digital advance directives, and telehealth 

How This Book Strengthens Your Clinical Practice 

• Apply ethical principles using practical decision-making frameworks that support everyday clinical practice 
• Deliver values-aligned, patient-centered care across serious illness trajectories, including complex or uncertain situations 
• Navigate consent, decisional capacity, surrogate decision‑making, and conflict resolution with greater assurance 
• Align clinical decisions with legal standards, institutional policy, and professional ethics 

Authored and Edited by Leaders in the Field 
Authored and edited by nationally recognized hospice and palliative medicine clinicians, clinical ethicists, and interdisciplinary leaders with deep expertise in ethical and legal issues across serious illness care. Contributors translate complex ethical principles and evolving legal standards into practical, clinically grounded guidance for real‑world decision‑making. 

Part of the AAHPM Essential Practices in Hospice and Palliative Medicine Series 
A trusted, evidence-based resource for hospice and palliative clinicians. 

Explore the full 9-book series: Essential Practices in Hospice and Palliative Medicine (Full Book Set)