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Reframing assisted dying through the civil law: possibilities and challenges for the UK
Jennifer Hardes Dvorak1, Claud Regnard2, Amy Proffitt3
1Canterbury Christ Church University, Canterbury, UK jennifer.dvorak@canterbury.ac.uk.
Background:
Current proposals for assisted dying in the UK are based on embedding it within a medical, healthcare model. This model is revealing challenges in safeguarding, monitoring and the impact on healthcare.
Objective:
To explore if a different model is a safer, pragmatic and realistic alternative.
Methods:
Existing medical models of assisted dying are reviewed and previously suggested alternatives are considered. The option of a socio-legal model is explained and examined in detail, including costs and likely numbers.
Findings:
The authors propose that a socio-legal, civil law model that sits outside of healthcare is the most socially nuanced and ethical mode of regulation.
Conclusions:
A socio-legal model retains the choice to end life, but would ensure greater social safeguarding of vulnerable persons. It also enables healthcare professionals and organisations to focus on healing and care.
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