Resumo

CORDERO ESCOBAR, Idoris. Ethical approach to pain. Rev Cubana Salud Pública [online]. 2006, vol.32, n.4, pp. 0-0. ISSN 1561-3127.

Pain is a scourge for mankind; treat it is the physician´s duty but it should be done following ethical principles. This paper was intended to evaluate the ethical principles referred to pain that will strenghten its diagnosis and treatment and make them more harmonic. A wide updated literature review was made using the national medical information network and its important links. Pain classification from the etiological and pathological viewpoints, its most effective treatment and the ethical implications inherent to it were shown. It may be concluded that the general principles of ethics are definable and perfectly applicable to the field of pain diagnosis and therapy, and that their observance & application in terms of the patient´s pain may significantly influence the quality of rendered services

Palavras-chave : Pain; suffering; ethical principles.