The systematic application of ethical codes in the counseling of persons who are considering euthanasia.
As health psychology develops, psychologists and counseling professionals are becoming progressively more involved with patients who have chronic terminal illnesses such as AIDS, Alzheimer's disease, and cancer. Consequently, they will be consulted increasingly by patients, caregivers, and lawyers in cases where euthanasia is being considered. There are numerous ethical dilemmas that could arise when counseling persons who are contemplating euthanasia. Professionals must consider carefully issues such as informed consent, bodily autonomy, respect for a person's dignity, patient welfare, as well as responsibility to society. The national psychological, social work, and medical associations of North America have each adopted a code of ethics. These codes may be used by counseling professionals to assist in the resolution of ethical dilemmas that may arise as a result of working with persons considering euthanasia. This paper discusses the relevance of these codes to the counseling of terminally ill patients.
Hadjistavropoulos
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Department of Psychology, University of Regina, Regina, Sask., Canada S4S 0A2. HADJISTT@MEENA.CC.UREGINA.CA
D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis; D026686:Beneficence; D002908:Chronic Disease; D032781:Codes of Ethics; D003219:Confidentiality; D003242:Conscience; D003376:Counseling / Q000941:ethics*; D036262:Empirical Research; D004995:Ethics, Professional; D005065:Euthanasia / Q000941:ethics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D009656:North America; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D024382:Professional Role; D011584:Psychology; D045808:Refusal to Participate; D016414:Resuscitation Orders; D012935:Social Justice; D012941:Social Responsibility; D012952:Societies; D017236:Suicide, Assisted / Q000941:ethics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019452:Terminally Ill