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Conflicts of conscience. Hospice and assisted suicide
C S Campbell1, J Hare, P Matthews
1Oregon State University, USA.
The Hastings Center Report
|May 1, 1995
Summary
Legalizing assisted suicide challenges hospice care. Hospices must create policies balancing end-of-life care ethics with patients
Area of Science:
- Medical Ethics
- Palliative Care
- End-of-Life Studies
Background:
- Proposals for legalizing assisted suicide present significant ethical and practical challenges to the core identity and integrity of hospice care.
- The implementation of assisted suicide legislation necessitates a re-evaluation of established hospice practices and principles.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the complex ethical considerations and practical policy development required for hospice programs in light of assisted suicide legalization.
- To examine how hospice providers can navigate the tension between their commitment to not hasten death and their duty to provide compassionate care to terminally ill patients.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative analysis of ethical frameworks and legal precedents related to end-of-life care.
- Review of existing hospice policies and guidelines in jurisdictions with assisted suicide legislation.
- Case study analysis of Oregon hospice programs' responses to Measure 16.
Main Results:
- Hospice programs face a fundamental conflict between traditional non-maleficence principles and patient autonomy in requesting lethal prescriptions.
- Developing practical policies requires careful consideration of patient rights, ethical obligations, and professional integrity.
Conclusions:
- Oregon hospice programs must proactively develop nuanced policies to address the legal right to assisted suicide while upholding their commitment to palliative care and patient well-being.
- Effective policy development is crucial for maintaining the integrity of hospice care in the evolving landscape of end-of-life options.