Exploring palliative care nurses’ views on the potential of AI and ethical dilemmas: a qualitative study

Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly discussed as a potential tool in healthcare. However, its real-world application in end-of-life settings remains limited. Given the complex care needs and ethical sensitivity of palliative care, it is important to understand how nurses perceive the potential role of AI and the ethical challenges associated with its use. This study aimed to explore palliative care nurses’ views on the potential of AI and related ethical dilemmas. This qualitative descriptive study involved semi-structured interviews with eighteen nurses providing palliative or end-of-life care who were recruited through purposive sampling. Interview data were systematically coded and organized into themes. The study was reported in accordance with the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ). Four main themes were identified: (1) potential recognition of the value of AI applications; (2) perceived real-world challenges facing AI integration in palliative care; (3) ethical concerns related to privacy, fairness, and responsibility; and (4) ethical tensions in nursing practice. Participants perceived AI as potentially useful for workload support, symptom assessment, and communication in palliative care, while also raising concerns about technical adaptability, AI literacy, privacy, fairness, accountability, autonomy, and the preservation of humanistic care. These findings may inform future AI design, training, and governance in palliative care. Not applicable.