Examining palliative care and physician assisted death

In a new article, Sándor Kőmüves looks at the phenomena of palliative care and physician assisted death and their interrelationships on several levels. The researcher begins with an analysis of the definition of palliative care, citing the most important accepted conditions that such care must meet. The detailed definition does not take into account and does not clearly indicate the inclusion of assisted death or euthanasia in activities related to medical and related care addressed to terminally ill patients.

Most professionals involved in this type of care recognize that the inclusion of assisted death in the scope of palliative care is unjustified, as the aim of the actions taken is to relieve the suffering of the patient and his family, not to hasten or delay death. The author points to different approaches regarding the links between palliative care and euthanasia or assisted death in different countries cited in the study.

It also emphasizes the importance of the worldview and the role of religion in the processes of including or excluding euthanasia and assisted death in the scope of palliative care.

Difficulties related to the response of medical staff to a patient's request to end life or hasten the process of dying require deep reflection, especially with regard to the well-being of patients. Palliative care facilities should transparently present their position on euthanasia and assisted death in order to ensure that patients have access to clearly defined rules and information about the availability of these procedures.

The paper is published in the journal Ethics in Progress.