title: Criminal act or palliative care? Prosecutions involving the care of the dying.
abstract: Author examines criminal investigations and prosecutions of physicians and nurses in connection with their care of dying patients and concludes that the criminal law has failed to protect patients and families and has significant power to deter appropriate pain management for dying patients.
authors.affiliation: Program in Medical Ethics, University of California, San Francisco, USA.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alpers
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D034723:Double Effect Principle; D004335:Drug and Narcotic Control / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D004989:Ethics; D005260:Female; D006708:Homicide / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D033182:Intention; D035846:Law Enforcement; D008020:Life Support Care / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D011189:Potassium Chloride / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D014481:United States; D028761:Withholding Treatment
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D011189:Potassium Chloride