Euthanasia

Question 1

What is euthanasia?

Answer 1

deliberately ending someone’s life to prevent pain and suffering

Question 2

What are the two types of euthanasia?

Answer 2

active
passive

Question 3

What is active euthanasia?

Answer 3

actively using an intervention with the aim of ending a patient’s life

Question 4

What is passive euthanasia?

Answer 4

withholding/withdrawing life-prolonging treatment

Question 5

What is voluntary euthanasia?

Answer 5

ending the life with the patient’s permission

Question 6

What is involuntary euthanasia?

Answer 6

ending life against a patient’s wishes (murder)

Question 7

In the UK, is physician assisted suicide illegal?

Answer 7

yes, it is illegal
(Suicide Act, 1961)

Question 8

What is physician assisted suicide?

Answer 8

-doctor provides knowledge or the means with which a patient can end their own life
-but does not actively partake in the act of killing
-patient ends their life themselves

Question 9

What is a famous organisation providing physician assisted suicide?

Answer 9

Dignitas
(Switzerland)

Question 10

30 year old patient suffering from severe mental health problems and physical health problems requesting physician assisted suicide.
What do you need to consider?

Answer 10

-what wishes did he previously relay to family/friends
-advanced directive
-if he doesn’t have capacity, are we acting in his best interests.

Question 11

The laws around euthanasia and criteria differ around the world

Question 12

Pro-legalisation of physician assisted suicide?

Answer 12

A: should have the right to choose to have a dignified death
B/N: if we do not allow them to end their life, we could be harming them by allowing pain and suffering to continue
J: letting them pass away means resources can by reallocated to patients who are not ready to die

Question 13

Against legalising physician assisted suicide?

Answer 13

A: patients could feel pressured to make the decision (could feel like a burden on the NHS/family)
-could damage P/D relationship as they might not trust doctor
N: do no harm
J: it is illegal in the UK
-needs to be tightly regulated
-different religions view this differently

Question 14

What is one thing to always include in this topic style question?

Answer 14

-seek help/advice from senior colleague or defence union

Question 15

How to structure an answer to the question?
Should physician assisted suicide be legalised?

Answer 15

-definition of PAS
-different to euthanasia
-acknowledge it is a contentious topic
-give example (doctor giving drugs/lethal dose to patient- Dignitas)
-law in the UK
-for arguments
-against arguments
-conclusion (advice and different people might have different religious viewpoints)

Question 16

It has been decided it is in the best interests of a patient to have their life support switched off.
How would you approach discussing your decision with the patient’s family?

Answer 16

-meeting with next of kin
-confirm they are the next of kin (confidentiality)
-ask how much they know
-assess whether it is the best time to tell patient
-explain why the decision was made (open/honest)
-discuss, but ultimately, the doctor’s decision
-if more explanation needed, refer to senior person
-complaint, direct them to PALS
-show empathy as its difficult to hear news
-conclusion: act with sensitivity, but ultimately doctor’s decision.