title: Aid-in-dying practice in Europe and the United States: Legal and ethical perspectives for pharmacy.
abstract: This article briefly reviews 'aid-in-dying' options such as euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide in Europe and the US Physician-assisted suicide is now legal in four US States. Current practices, medications used and statistics relating to prescription frequency and death rates from the participating States are briefly discussed. This paper also examines the role of pharmacists in assisted suicides; legal, ethical and professional challenges that they face, and future implications on pharmacist education to enable them to make an educated decision about their involvement in aid-in-dying practices.
authors.affiliation: Shenandoah University, Bernard J Dunn School of Pharmacy, 45085 University Drive, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA. Electronic address: rvaradar@su.edu.
authors.forename: Ranjani
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Varadarajan
authors.affiliation: University of Maryland Eastern Shore, School of Pharmacy and Health Profession, Princess Anne, MD 21853, USA.
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Freeman
authors.affiliation: University of Maryland Eastern Shore, School of Pharmacy and Health Profession, Princess Anne, MD 21853, USA.
authors.forename: Jayesh R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Parmar
mesh_terms: D003657:Decision Making; D004512:Education, Pharmacy / Q000379:methods; D005060:Europe; D005065:Euthanasia / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D010593:Pharmaceutical Services / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010595:Pharmacists / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000458:organization & administration*; D055553:Prescription Drugs / Q000008:administration & dosage; D024382:Professional Role; D017236:Suicide, Assisted / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D055553:Prescription Drugs
keywords: Barbiturates; Death with Dignity Act; Euthanasia; Mercy killing; Physician-assisted death; Physician-assisted suicide