BMJ 1994;308:1656 (25 June)

Editorials

Euthanasia: can be part of good terminal care

It makes no sense to discuss euthanasia in terms of being for or against it. The basic question is whether we accept the right of human beings to decide for themselves how their lives will end.

The backbone of ethics is respect for human life, and many doctors have interpreted their duty as being to keep patients alive at all costs and for as long as possible. Patients are sometimes treated even when the chances of success are slight, which the recent explosion in medical knowledge has made more likely.1

The request for euthanasia is in many respects a response to this. People now understand that treatment can lengthen not only life but also the suffering that may accompany treatment. They have a choice where once they had none: they can opt for treatment or, if they find their level of suffering unacceptable, they can ask their doctor to stop . . . [Full text of this article]


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Relevant Article

Euthanasia: Present law protects doctors and patients
A M Smith, R Twycross, P Madeley, J Gilbert, V Ventafridda, H J Thomson, A Fergusson, P Saunders, I G Finlay, P Norris, B Ward, and P Tate
BMJ 1994 309: 471. [Extract] [Full Text]

This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Grzybowska, P., Finlay, I. (1997). The incidence of suicide in palliative care patients. Palliat Med 11: 313-316 [Abstract]  
  • Twycross, R. (1996). Jack Kevorkian: a medical hero?. BMJ 313: 227-227 [Full text]  
  • Smith, A M, Twycross, R, Madeley, P, Gilbert, J, Ventafridda, V, Thomson, H J, Fergusson, A, Saunders, P, Finlay, I G, Norris, P, Ward, B, Tate, P (1994). Euthanasia: Present law protects doctors and patients. BMJ 309: 471a-471 [Full text]  
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