>GP-UK might be a little too
>visible for a practising GP to say they approved of
>euthanasia.
Unless in the Netherlands.
>I think we will have to agree to disagree.
One day we'll find something in common ;-)
>But do we have the right
>to deny death to someone that wishes it?
I would accept that I cannot force my principles onto patients.
As you said, practitioners must act in accordance with heir own views.
However this does not allow me to ignore the problem and leave the
decisions to other doctors who will deal with it.
5-10% of terminally ill patients seriously request active euthanasia
[Hunt et al 1995]
In the Netherlands 7% of the cancer deaths involve euthanasia
[Pijnenborg et al 1995]
Patients obviously have the right to decline futile treatments.
That is not the same as actively bringing about death.
A patient asking for euthanasia may do so through fatigue, depression,
pain, distressing symptoms, loss of dignity, sense of being a burden
etc.
Treatments for these symptoms may hasten death.
That is not euthanasia.
Denying active intervention to cause death does not mean lack of
compassion and appropriate care.
--
Katie
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