The end of life decisions -- should physicians aid their patients in dying?
Decisions pertaining to end of life whether legalized or otherwise, are made in many parts of the world but not reported on account of legal implications. The highly charged debate over voluntary euthanasia and physician assisted suicide was brought into the public arena again when two British doctors confessed to giving lethal doses of drugs to hasten the death of terminally ill patients. Lack of awareness regarding the distinction between different procedures on account of legal status granted to them in some countries is the other area of concern. Some equate withdrawal of life support measures to physician assisted suicide whereas physician assisted suicide is often misinterpreted as euthanasia. Debate among the medical practitioners, law makers and the public taking into consideration the cultural, social and religious ethos will lead to increased awareness, more safeguards and improvement of medical decisions concerning the end of life. International Human Rights Law can provide a consensual basis for such a debate on euthanasia.
Sharma
B R
BR
Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Government Medical College and Hospital, 1156-B, Sector 32-B, Chandigarh 160030, India. drbrsharma@yahoo.com
D001293:Attitude to Death; D005065:Euthanasia / Q000941:ethics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006806:Human Rights; D006801:Humans; D010819:Physician's Role; D017236:Suicide, Assisted / Q000941:ethics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence