期刊论文详细信息
BMC Medicine
Voluntary stopping of eating and drinking: is medical support ethically justified?
Debate
Ralf J. Jox1  Johanna Anneser2  Gian Domenico Borasio3  Isra Black4 
[1] Institute for Ethics, History and Theory of Medicine, University of Munich, Lessingstr. 2, D-80336, Munich, Germany;Geriatric Palliative Care, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland;Palliative Care Service, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany;Service de Soins Palliatifs et de Support, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Lausanne, Switzerland;York Law School, The University of York, York, UK;Palliative Care Service, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany;
关键词: Decision making;    Nutrition and hydration;    Palliative care;    Ethical analysis;    Medical ethics;    Legal aspects;   
DOI  :  10.1186/s12916-017-0950-1
 received in 2017-05-05, accepted in 2017-10-03,  发布年份 2017
来源: Springer
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【 摘 要 】

BackgroundPhysician-assisted dying has been the subject of extensive discussion and legislative activity both in Europe and North America. In this context, dying by voluntary stopping of eating and drinking (VSED) is often proposed, and practiced, as an alternative method of self-determined dying, with medical support for VSED being regarded as ethically and legally justified.ArgumentIn our opinion, this view is flawed. First, we argue that VSED falls within the concept of suicide, albeit with certain unique features (non-invasiveness, initial reversibility, resemblance to the natural dying process). Second, we demonstrate, on the basis of paradigmatic clinical cases, that medically supported VSED is, at least in some instances, tantamount to assisted suicide. This is especially the case if a patient’s choice of VSED depends on the physician’s assurance to provide medical support.ConclusionThus, for many jurisdictions worldwide, medically supported VSED may fall within the legal prohibitions on suicide assistance. Physicians, lawmakers, and societies should discuss specific ways of regulating medical support for VSED in order to provide clear guidance for both patients and healthcare professionals.Please see related article: http://bmcmedicine.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12916-017-0951-0.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© The Author(s). 2017

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