Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
https://hdl.handle.net/2440/53494
Citations | ||
Scopus | Web of ScienceĀ® | Altmetric |
---|---|---|
?
|
?
|
Type: | Journal article |
Title: | Managing intentions: The end-of-life administration of analgesics and sedatives, and the possibility of slow euthanasia |
Author: | Douglas, C. Kerridge, I. Ankeny, R. |
Citation: | Bioethics, 2008; 22(7):388-396 |
Publisher: | Blackwell Publ Ltd |
Issue Date: | 2008 |
ISSN: | 0269-9702 1467-8519 |
Statement of Responsibility: | Charles Douglas, Ian Kerridge and Rachel Ankeny |
Abstract: | There has been much debate regarding the 'double-effect' of sedatives and analgesics administered at the end-of-life, and the possibility that health professionals using these drugs are performing 'slow euthanasia.' On the one hand analgesics and sedatives can do much to relieve suffering in the terminally ill. On the other hand, they can hasten death. According to a standard view, the administration of analgesics and sedatives amounts to euthanasia when the drugs are given with an intention to hasten death. In this paper we report a small qualitative study based on interviews with 8 Australian general physicians regarding their understanding of intention in the context of questions about voluntary euthanasia, assisted suicide and particularly the use of analgesic and sedative infusions (including the possibility of voluntary or non-voluntary 'slow euthanasia'). We found a striking ambiguity and uncertainty regarding intentions amongst doctors interviewed. Some were explicit in describing a 'grey' area between palliation and euthanasia, or a continuum between the two. Not one of the respondents was consistent in distinguishing between a foreseen death and an intended death. A major theme was that 'slow euthanasia' may be more psychologically acceptable to doctors than active voluntary euthanasia by bolus injection, partly because the former would usually only result in a small loss of 'time' for patients already very close to death, but also because of the desirable ambiguities surrounding causation and intention when an infusion of analgesics and sedatives is used. The empirical and philosophical implications of these findings are discussed. |
Keywords: | Humans Analgesics Hypnotics and Sedatives Terminal Care Euthanasia, Active Attitude of Health Personnel Intention Interview, Psychological New South Wales Double Effect Principle |
Description: | The definitive version may be found at www.wiley.com |
DOI: | 10.1111/j.1467-8519.2008.00661.x |
Published version: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8519.2008.00661.x |
Appears in Collections: | Aurora harvest 5 History publications |
Files in This Item:
There are no files associated with this item.
Items in DSpace are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.