Table 2 Avoiding reduction of consciousness

Avoiding states of unconsciousness

Jens, hospital physician

 “We don’t want to sedate him, we just want to alleviate his suffering and take away his discomfort. We don’t want to euthanize him, but, um, we just want to take away his symptoms […] So that's what you actually want: that he is, um, maybe still able to make contact and somehow maybe still able to express, um, needs. Um, but of course it is not always feasible, and whether that is always due to the medication must of course first be proven.”

Konrad, general practitioner

“Intermittent and light, not continuous and deep. Perfectly clear. We are not anaesthetists.”

Nino, hospital nurse

“So, it’s not that the patients are completely beamed away, I would say. We don’t do that here.”

Maximiliane, general practitioner

B: Some are approachable. […] And then they can still articulate themselves and I don’t have to beat them down

Avoiding all types of reduction of consciousness

Marius, nursing home nurse

“As long as they can express themselves, that’s a sign for me that people can still do it. […] And I don’t want to sedate people and free them from everything. They have to be a little confused. They have to be a bit restless, they have to be able to express themselves. And then get the appropriate therapy. But not that they are sleepy and can no longer express themselves.”