Assisted Suicide Flashcards
Define assisted suicide
When a competent person ends their own life but with the assistance of another person to perform the act
i.e provides the means to do so - physician assisted suicide
Define Euthanasia
The deliberate taking of another person’s life to relieve their suffering
What is an advanced directive/decision?
Where a patient gives advanced notice that they want to refuse treatment if they become unable to communicate their wishes in the future
Treatments being refused must be named in the advance decision + situations where treatments would or wouldn’t be acceptable must be named
What is an advanced statement?
Explains an individual’s wishes by talking or writing about them to anyone involved in their care or their family.
This is not legally binding - not automatically part of the law
Different types of assisted dying
Voluntary, non-voluntary and involuntary
These forms can either be passive or active
Non-voluntary assisted suicide
The person is unable to express an opinion on the matter
Involuntary assisted suicide
The person is competent to make a decision but has not been asked or their choice has been ignored
Examples of active voluntary assisted suicide
The action of the individual brings about death.
This may be with some assistance from another person to achieve death
The action of another brings about death e.g administration of a lethal substance
Example of active Non- voluntary/ involuntary assisted suicide
Action of another brings about death e.g overdose of painkilling drugs
Example of passive non-voluntary/ involuntary assisted suicide
Decision to withhold/withdraw medical treatment
This is only permissible in the non-voluntary case where it is in the patient’s best interests and further treatment would be futile
Passive voluntary euthanasia
Refusal of medical treatment by a mentally competent adult
This may be in respect of future specified circumstances e.g via an advanced decision
Where is assisted suicide legal across the world?
Switzerland Albania Colombia Japan Belgium Luxembourg Netherlands Germany Canada - 2016
Who decides whether a prosecution for assisted suicide/ euthanasia goes to court?
The Director of Public Prosecutions (England)
Procurator fiscal (Scotland)
Are the Royal College of Physicians for or against physician assisted suicide?
Against
Are the Royal College of General Practitioners for or against physician assisted suicide?
Against
