Can someone be sedated continuously until they die?

Australia · 29 August 2026 · 3 min read · Reviewed by Dr Kane Treble

Yes, continuous palliative sedation until death can be used in some situations.

General information: This page gives general information for people in Australia. It cannot tell you whether continuous sedation is right for one person. If severe symptoms are not settling, contact the person's palliative care team, doctor or nurse.

Yes, continuous palliative sedation until death can be used in some situations. It is usually considered only when a person is close to death and has severe symptoms that cannot be relieved in other ways. It should be carefully assessed, explained, consented to, documented and reviewed.

Continuous sedation means sedating medicine is given without a planned break, so the person stays deeply asleep or much less aware until they die. It is not used because dying is taking a long time. It is used to relieve severe suffering from refractory symptoms.

When it may be appropriate

The treating team should first assess the symptom and look for causes that can be treated. For example, restlessness may be due to pain, urinary retention, constipation, delirium, medicine effects, fear, or needing a quieter room.

If reasonable treatments have not worked, or would be too burdensome or too slow to help, the symptom may be considered refractory. Specialist palliative care involvement is important, especially for continuous deep sedation.

What happens during continuous sedation

Medicines are usually given under the skin through a small needle or continuous infusion. The team checks the person's comfort and adjusts medicine to relieve distress. Mouth care, turning, skin care, bladder and bowel care, and family support continue.

The person may not be able to talk, eat or drink. If they were already close to death, they may already have stopped wanting or being able to take food and fluid. The team should explain what will happen with other treatments, such as antibiotics, oxygen, artificial fluids, ventilation or regular tablets.

Does it cause death?

Appropriate palliative sedation is intended to relieve suffering, not to cause death. The person dies from their illness. The dose should be proportionate to the symptom.

This is different from voluntary assisted dying. VAD has the purpose of ending life through a specific legal process. If a family is unsure what is being proposed, they should ask the team to explain the difference clearly.

Can it be stopped?

Sometimes sedation is used for a short crisis and can be reduced if the symptom settles. Continuous sedation until death is usually chosen when symptoms are severe, death is near, and waking the person is expected to bring back intolerable suffering. Ask whether the plan is temporary, reviewable, or expected to continue until death.

When to get help now

Ask for urgent palliative care review if symptoms are severe, if the person looks distressed despite sedation, or if family members do not understand or agree about the plan.

Call 000 if there is a life-threatening emergency and no expected-death plan is in place, or if you cannot reach the treating team and the person appears unsafe or severely distressed.