Attitudes of Michigan physicians and the public toward legalizing physician-assisted suicide and voluntary euthanasia

Article Abstract:

Most Michigan physicians and adults in the state's general population appear to support legalization of physician-assisted suicide. Researchers mailed questionnaires to adults and to physicians most likely to specialize in the care of terminally ill patients twice in 1994 and again to physicians in 1995, and received 1119 questionnaires from physicians and 998 from the adults. When asked to choose between legalization and a ban, 56% of physicians and 66% of the public chose legalization, while 8% of each group were undecided. When given a range of options, 40% of physicians chose legalization, 37% chose no law at all, 17% chose a ban, and 5% were undecided. A plan whereby consultants and committees would assume responsibility for assisted suicide was more popular with physicians than one which places more responsibility on individual physicians. Assuming legalization, 22% of physicians said they would actually participate in either assisted suicide or voluntary euthanasia, and 13% would only participate in assisted suicide.

Physicians, Medical professions, Beliefs, opinions and attitudes, Public opinion, Euthanasia

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Assisted death - a compassionate response to a medical failure

Article Abstract:

Assisted death should be approved for terminally patients on a case by case basis. This includes both voluntary euthanasia and physicians-assisted suicide, in which the doctor gives the patient the means to commit suicide. Every terminally ill patient should be entitled to a good death, or a death that is as free from pain as possible. This type of death may be the most compassionate solution to medical science's failure. A case-oriented approach to assisted death would allow the prohibition of those that violate the principles of medicine. Several different methods can be used to carry out an assisted death. The most optimal are those that allow the patient to control the final act. Some type of framework would need to be established in the legal system for reviewing cases of assisted death that are questionable.

Innovations, Column, Ethical aspects, Medical ethics

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Withdrawing intensive life-sustaining treatment - recommendations for compassionate clinical management

Article Abstract:

Many dying patients receive life-sustaining treatments despite the fact that they do not want them. This probably occurs because doctors are not trained in the art of withdrawing life support. Many physicians believe that the withdrawal of ventilation, dialysis and artificial nutrition and hydration cause significant distress in patients but this has not been supported by studies. If life support is withdrawn, the health care team should be prepared to counsel the patient's family. Guidelines for withdrawing life support are included.

Methods, Usage, Terminal care, Life support systems (Critical care), Life support care

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