Physician-Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia: Emerging Issues From a Global Perspective

Journal of Palliative Care
Charles L SprungE Wesley Ely

Abstract

Medical professional societies have traditionally opposed physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia (PAS-E), but this opposition may be shifting. We present 5 reasons why physicians shouldn't be involved in PAS-E. 1. Slippery slopes: There is evidence that safeguards in the Netherlands and Belgium are ineffective and violated, including administering lethal drugs without patient consent, absence of terminal illness, untreated psychiatric diagnoses, and nonreporting; 2. Lack of self-determination: Psychological and social motives characterize requests for PAS-E more than physical symptoms or rational choices; many requests disappear with improved symptom control and psychological support; 3. Inadequate palliative care: Better palliative care makes most patients physically comfortable. Many individuals requesting PAS-E don't want to die but to escape their suffering. Adequate treatment for depression and pain decreases the desire for death; 4. Medical professionalism: PAS-E transgresses the inviolable rule that physicians heal and palliate suffering but never intentionally inflict death; 5. Differences between means and ends: Proeuthanasia advocates look to the ends (the patient's death) and say the ends justify the means; oppone...Continue Reading

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Citations

Nov 23, 2018·Australian Health Review : a Publication of the Australian Hospital Association·Ben White, Lindy Willmott
Sep 4, 2019·Zeitschrift für Psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie·Stephan Doering
Oct 30, 2019·Intensive Care Medicine·E Wesley ElyCharlie L Sprung
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Feb 2, 2021·Journal of Palliative Medicine·Lukas Radbruch, Birgit Jaspers
May 22, 2021·Journal of Medical Ethics·Carlos Gómez-Vírseda, Chris Gastmans

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Methods Mentioned

BETA
sedation

Software Mentioned

PAS

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