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Assisted suicide bordering on active euthanasia.

G Bosshard1, D Jermini, D Eisenhart

  • 1Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Zurich-Irchel, Winterthurerstrasse 190/Bau 52, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland. bosh@irm.unizh.ch

International Journal of Legal Medicine
|April 12, 2003
PubMed
Summary

A severely paralyzed woman used a specialized device to self-administer a lethal dose of pentobarbital, leading to her death classified as assisted suicide.

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Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Medical Ethics
  • Bioethics

Background:

  • A 44-year-old woman experienced near-complete paralysis following a severe brainstem hemorrhage.
  • Despite extensive rehabilitation, she remained dependent on others for daily care.

Observation:

  • A specialized device allowed the patient to administer liquids via a PEG catheter, despite significant motor coordination impairments.
  • Four years post-stroke, the patient expressed a desire to end her life and joined a right-to-die society.

Findings:

  • A physician prescribed a lethal dose of pentobarbital.
  • The patient self-administered the lethal substance using the specialized device, with her husband and a right-to-die society companion present.
  • Her action was legally classified as assisted suicide due to her self-administration via the device.
Keywords:
Death and Euthanasia

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Implications:

  • This case highlights the complex intersection of severe disability, patient autonomy, and end-of-life choices.
  • It raises ethical considerations regarding the use of assistive technology in physician-assisted suicide.
  • The legal classification underscores the importance of self-administration in defining assisted suicide.