The case for physician assisted suicide: not (yet) proven

Area of Science:

• Medical Ethics
• Public Policy
• End-of-Life Care

Background:

• Legalization of physician assisted suicide (PAS) in Oregon and physician assisted death (PAD) in The Netherlands has reignited ethical and legal discussions.
• Core arguments surrounding end-of-life choices and physician involvement remain consistent with historical debates.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the ongoing debate on physician assisted suicide and death.
• To advocate for a consequentialist framework in evaluating legal and policy changes regarding end-of-life decisions.

Main Methods:

• Review of historical and contemporary arguments on physician assisted suicide and death.
• Application of a consequentialist ethical framework to policy considerations.

Main Results:

• The fundamental arguments for and against PAS/PAD have not significantly evolved over the past 50 years.
• A consequentialist approach is proposed to assess the need for PAS/PAD against potential risks.

Conclusions:

• Policy decisions regarding PAS/PAD should not be driven solely by individual cases.
• A thorough assessment of the need for PAS/PAD, balanced against risks of error and abuse, is crucial for informed social policy.