British physicians oppose to the legislation of physician-assisted suicide (PAS). They think that such legislation will change the face of medicine for worse, and undermine patients' rights, leading to premature death of vulnerable people. Some of them may agree that PAS is the right thing to do for certain patients but the risks are too high. Helping small number of patients who wish to decide the moment of their death might harm the larger population. Because of economic and other reasons, patients will not receive the same treatment they are receiving today. The values of the medical profession will change for the worse. Patients will not receive the treatment they receive today. Instead of investing in life and in prolonging patients’ life, death will become a preferred less expensive and less time consuming option. Are they right? What do you think?
Hello,
At the moment, the only access that people from the UK have, is to go abroad for this.
I don't know much about this; it didn't affect the work I did before I retired.
I would like to think that end of life care is sufficient for this to be unnecessary (as in some hospices, where such care is amazing). But can also emphasise with people, perhaps with motor neurone disease or other comparable conditions, with increasingly irreversible disability, who don't want to continue living the life they currently have.
If this was made legal in this country, I can quite understand your concerns. It could be marvellous or it could be frightening. It would be a massive ethical step . . .
It would be interesting to read the responses of other members, especially those who live where this is an option.
Very best wishes,
Mary
Oregon was the first state to allow physician assisted dying in the US, and it is now legal in about 8 other states. Its not legal nationwide, so you can look at the different states that have legalized it and observe the local effects to see the good and bad. Recent Oregon stats are available at https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaoncology/article-abstract/2616352. Mostly, the stats show a conservative use of the law, as one of the more interesting stats is that only a little more than half that qualify and get the drugs actually take them. Pain and loss of autonomy are among the main reasons. Only a small percentage of deaths in Oregon are attributable to MD assisted dying. And only a small percentage of MDs prescribe the necessary medications.
I generally do not agree with this kind of treatment, and I agree that it will change medical profession forever, probably not in a good way.
My opinion is that in some countries the palliative care for patients is not developed enough, as it requires larger funds, more medical staff, and advanced organizational skills at all levels. That's why, this option, if ever, should only be considered where this palliative care is highly developed, and patients have quality care until the last minute of their life.
Contrary, if it is an option for counties with lower income and less organized healthcare systems, the will to enhance the palliative care will be less vigorous, as long as there is easier and cheaper way to take care of this patients.
Belgium comprises examples that physician-assisted suicide is bound to lead to abuse and to harming vulnerable populations. Children aged 10-11 with diagnoses you would not think would lead to death in a near future, have been killed. Mental health diagnoses like depression can be the basis for such decision without grown up children's permission. We are on our way to a nazi line of thinking. Why do physician's have to kill persons, they have previously been obliged to save life at any costs
Thank you Beatrice. The question relates to physician-assisted suicide, not to euthanasia. Do you think physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia are the same?
Best wishes
Raphael
Yes I do think so, because the end result on this earth is the same in both cases. However, we do not know who ends up in heaven and who resides in hell for ever and ever.
Today's news (although rather old). Is this nurse-assisted "euthanasia" or murder or psychosis?
06.06.2019 - 11:04 Uhr
Oldenburg – Auf diesen Tag haben viele Angehörige der getöteten Menschen gewartet: Das Landgericht Oldenburg hat den ehemaligen Krankenpfleger Niels Högel (42) wegen Mordes in 85 Fällen zu einer lebenslangen Haftstrafe verurteilt.
Zugleich stellte die Kammer am Donnerstag die besondere Schwere der Schuld fest. Högel tötete seine Patienten von 2000 bis 2005 an den Kliniken Oldenburg und Delmenhorst.
Richter Sebastian Bührmann (55) begann seine Urteilsbegründung mit empörten Vorwürfen an den Angeklagten: „Es ist so unfassbar, was Sie getan haben, ich kann es nicht fassen, was Sie getan haben. Manchmal reicht die schlimmste Fantasie nicht aus, um zu beschreiben, was Sie getan haben".
Zu Högels Verhalten gegenüber einer Kollegin im Krankenhaus sagte der Richter: „Sie haben sich lustig über sie gemacht. Sie haben ihre Würde mit Füßen getreten. Sie fragte Sie nach einer missglückten Reanimation: Warum hast du das getan? Das ist eine Frage, die auch wir nicht abschließend aufklären konnten.“
Er hat ihnen unterschiedliche Medikamente gespritzt haben, um sich bei einer anschließenden Reanimierung als Retter zu präsentieren. Viele Patienten überlebten das nicht.
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