Medical Treatment at the End of Life—A British Doctor's Perspective
Medical Treatment at the End of Life—A British Doctor's Perspective
The rising number of prosecutions for medical manslaughter understandably is a matter of concern within the medical profession, and the complex ethical issues with which a medical professional must contend when confronted by a patient requesting assisted dying can only be exacerbated by the knowledge that his consequent actions may educe criminal liability. This chapter provides a UK clinician's perspective on these issues, and identifies three key issues in regard of the way ethical principles impact upon clinical practice at the end of life: greater demand, and respect for ‘patients' rights’; advances in medical practice that prolong life; and the Human Rights Act 1998. Together, these elements can lead to tensions for a doctor trying, at one and the same time, to respect his patient's vulnerability, assist the patient in articulating his or her authentic wishes, and to follow these wishes while remaining within the law.
Keywords: assisted dying, euthanasia, withdrawal of treatment, patients' rights, Human Rights Act 1998
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