Physician-assisted suicide and/or euthanasia: Pragmatic implications for palliative care [corrected]

Area of Science:

• Medical Ethics
• Palliative Care
• Healthcare Policy

Background:

• Euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide (EAS) legalization is debated globally, raising ethical and legal concerns.
• Responding to EAS requests is a complex healthcare responsibility.
• The practical implications of EAS legalization for palliative care are often overlooked.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the less-discussed practical implications of legalized euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide (EAS) for palliative care.
• To offer clinical perspectives on the pragmatic effects of EAS on patients, families, and healthcare professionals.
• To provide insights relevant to the ongoing debate on EAS legalization.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of multidisciplinary clinical experience.
• Review of insights from jurisdictions where EAS is legalized.
• Focus on practical, bedside-encountered issues.

Main Results:

• Legalized EAS presents numerous practical challenges for palliative care provision.
• These challenges require detailed consideration at the clinical level.
• Understanding these implications is essential for comprehensive assessment of EAS.

Conclusions:

• Adequate resourcing and training for palliative care are prerequisites for considering EAS legalization.
• Increased investment in palliative care research and community engagement is necessary.
• Further resources should be allocated to strengthen palliative care before advancing EAS.