BMJ 1994;309:471 (13 August)

Letters

Euthanasia: Present law protects doctors and patients

EDITOR, - A P M Heintz raises important issues in his editorial.1 He correctly distinguishes euthanasia ("a medical act that deliberately shortens the life of a seriously ill patient at his or her request") from the perfectly legal withdrawal or withholding of burdensome and unavailing treatments which only prolong or add to suffering. The recent recommendations of the Select Committee of the House of Lords2 uphold the rights of patients to refuse treatments which they do not wish to undergo, and urge the importance of doctors continuing to balance burdensomeness against benefit when advising on treatment.

The present law protects both doctor and patient. The patient feels that life is no longer worth living, but the moral stance behind the law reflects that a person's life is valuable per se - not because of what the person contributes or does, but because the person is a person. In rejecting legalisation . . . [Full text of this article]


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Relevant Article

Euthanasia: can be part of good terminal care
A P M Heintz
BMJ 1994 308: 1656. [Extract] [Full Text]

This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Irwin, M. (1995). BMA should evaluate Dutch experience with euthanasia. BMJ 310: 662c-662 [Full text]  
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