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Resources, the family and voluntary euthanasia.

M R Bliss1

  • 1Hackney Hospital, London.

The British Journal of General Practice : the Journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners
|March 1, 1990
PubMed
Summary

Societal care for the elderly is resource-dependent. Increasing longevity strains family resources, potentially impacting child welfare and necessitating ethical considerations for end-of-life care decisions.

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Area of Science:

  • Sociology
  • Gerontology
  • Bioethics

Background:

  • Societal care for the elderly is contingent on available resources, which are influenced by contemporary needs and expectations.
  • Modern families face increasing challenges in caring for aging members due to rising life expectancies.
  • Finite societal resources for dependent populations create a conflict between supporting the elderly and the needs of children, potentially leading to underfunded social support and education.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the resource allocation challenges in caring for aging populations.
  • To examine the sociobiological underpinnings of family support systems.
  • To discuss the ethical considerations of longevity and end-of-life medical decisions.

Main Methods:

  • Review of ethnological studies on societal care for the elderly.
  • Analysis of sociobiological theory, specifically inclusive fitness.
  • Examination of legal and ethical frameworks for medical decision-making, such as living wills.

Main Results:

  • Care for the elderly is directly linked to societal resource availability.
  • Increasing longevity poses a significant challenge to family and societal support systems.
  • Sociobiology suggests inherent family mechanisms for mutual support, even at personal cost.
  • Many elderly individuals prefer resource prioritization for younger generations when facing severe disability.
  • Defensive medicine practices in the USA have led to legal instruments like living wills for patient autonomy.

Conclusions:

  • Balancing resources for the elderly and children is a critical societal challenge.
  • Understanding family dynamics and sociobiological factors is crucial for effective elder care.
  • Ethical frameworks and individual autonomy, like living wills, are important for end-of-life care, but improved family understanding could reduce their necessity.
Keywords:
Death and EuthanasiaNational Health ServiceProfessional Patient Relationship

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