Aid in dying: guidance for an emerging end-of-life practice.
Patients approaching death because of terminal illness may find themselves trapped in a dying process they find unbearable, even with excellent pain and symptom management. Some will want the option of aid in dying. Aid in dying is the practice of a physician writing a prescription for medication for a mentally competent, terminally ill patient that the patient may ingest to bring about a peaceful death. The practice is increasingly accepted by physicians, and it is likely that a growing population of patients will inquire about it. Data from states that give terminally ill patients a statutory right to aid in dying demonstrate that the practice improves end-of-life care. Therefore, it is timely for clinical practice guidelines to emerge to offer guidance to physicians willing to provide aid in dying.
Legal Affairs, Compassion & Choices, Denver, CO; Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, CA. Electronic address: ktucker@compassionandchoices.org.
Kathryn L
KL
Tucker
D003142:Communication; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D012297:Right to Die / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D017236:Suicide, Assisted / Q000941:ethics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000941:ethics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D016312:Treatment Refusal / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence