1. End of life: Expert care and support, not physician-hastened death.
- Author
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Masdeu JC, Aksamit AJ, Carver AC, Foley KM, Kass JS, Martin RA, McCusker EA, McQuillen MP, Mehanna R, Payne R, Victor SJ, and Warach S
- Subjects
- Humans, Netherlands, Neurology ethics, Neurology methods, Societies, Medical, United States, Palliative Care ethics, Palliative Care methods, Terminal Care ethics, Terminal Care methods
- Abstract
In legal physician-hastened death, a physician prescribes medication with the primary intent of causing the death of a willing terminally ill patient. This practice differs radically from palliative sedation, intended to relieve a patient's suffering rather than cause a patient's death. In this position paper, we argue that the practice of physician-hastened death is contrary to the interests of patients, their families, and the sound ethical practice of medicine. Therefore, the American Academy of Neurology should advise its members against this practice, as it had done until 2018., (Copyright © 2019 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of the American Academy of Neurology.)
- Published
- 2019
- Full Text
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