Author: Chr. Jivkova
Title: Once again about euthanasia. 3, 2003, ¹ 2, 20-27.
Key Words (author's): Euthanasia; Terminal illness; Death; Suffering; Quality of life; Double effect; Resuscitation.
Key Words (MEDLINE): Euthanasia - psychology; Euthanasia - legislation and jurisprudence; Palliative care - organization and administration; Patient acceptance of health care - psychology ; Pain-therapy; Palliative care - standards; Physician's role; Suicide, assisted; Terminal care – standards; Quality of life.
Topic: Studies, analyses, reviews
Abstract
The mercy killing of patients called “euthanasia”, is a topic of long-standing controversy in biomedical ethics. Can active euthanasia, especially in response to the request of a competent patient, be morally justified? Should it be legalized? Parallel questions can be raised about physician-assisted suicide, a closely related topic that has also generated intense discussion. In conjunction with a medical perspective the killing of patients is incompatible with the role of the physician in society.
Address for correspondence: Chr. Jivkova, Psychologist, Tel.:02 929 27 08, e-mail: [email protected].
