Neurology and physician-assisted suicide: glossary of definitions and terminology

The progress of biomedical technologies has expanded the boundaries of care, offering new treatment options and prolonging patients' survival even in conditions of great suffering and dependence. End-of-life decisions are an important topic in contemporay bioethics and physician-assisted suicide (PAS) is a still controversial topic, with Neurology at the forefront.This glossary provides a set of definitions to improve clarity and use of a consistent language in the bioethical debate on patients' autonomy, treatment limitations, palliative care, PAS, euthanasia, and related issues. The objective of the glossary, which is aligned with most recent international consensus documents and with the italian regulatory frameworks, is to clarify and harmonize the practical use of terms.The glossary, together with the companion paper outlining the position of the Italian Society of Neurology (SIN) regarding PAS, are living documents subject to revision. They can serve as a foundation for a pluralistic discussion in the debate on the ethical issues related to the care of individuals with neurological diseases characterized by poor prognosis in terms of severe disability or limited biological and biographical life expectancies, as well as their families and caregivers. An even more ambitious goal of these documents is to enhance research and inform the development of national regulation in these areas.