The Arguments for Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Suicide: Ethical Reflection

The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in its Declaration on Euthanasia of May 5, 1980, defines euthanasia as an action or omission that by its own nature or in its intention, procures death, with the goal of eliminating any pain.

Emanuel E.J. “A Phase 1 Trial on the Ethics of Phase 1 Trials,” Journal of Clinical Oncology, 13 (1995): 1049–1051. Deciding to Forgo Life-Sustaining Treatment, President's Commission for the Study of Ethical Problems in Medicine and Biomedical and Behavioral Research, Washington DC, US Govt Printing Office, 1983.

McKhann CF ., “Is There a Role for Physician-Assisted Suicide in Cancer? Yes” Important Advances in Oncology. DeVita V.T. , Hellman S.H. , and Rosenberg S.A. (eds). Lippincott-Raven Publishers, Philadelphia, 1996, p. 271.

McKhann CF ., “Is There a Role for Physician-Assisted Suicide in Cancer? Yes” Important Advances in Oncology. DeVita V.T. , Hellman S.H. , and Rosenberg S.A. (eds). Lippincott-Raven Publishers, Philadelphia, 1996, p. 272.

Brock D.W. , “Voluntary Active Euthanasia,” Hastings Center Report 22 (1992): 10–22.

McKhann CF ., “Is There a Role for Physician-Assisted Suicide in Cancer? Yes” Important Advances in Oncology. DeVita V.T. , Hellman S.H. , and Rosenberg S.A. (eds). Lippincott-Raven Publishers, Philadelphia, 1996, p. 268

Gunderson M. “A Right to Suicide Does Not Entail a Right to Assisted Death,” Journal of Medical Ethics, 23 (1997): 51–54, p. 51.

Battin M.P. , The Least Worst Death: Essays in Bioethics on the End of Life. New York: Oxford University Press, 1994, pp. 280–282.

Callahan D. “When Self-Determination Runs Amok.” Hastings Center Report 22 (1992): 52–55. Jochemsen, H. “Euthanasia in Holland: An Ethical Critique of the New Law,” Journal of Medical Ethics 20 (1994): 212-227.

Gunderson M. “A Right to Suicide Does Not Entail a Right to Assisted Death,” Journal of Medical Ethics, 23 (1997): 51–54, p. 51.

Quill T.E. , Cassel C.K. , Meier D.E. , “Care of the Hopelessly III: Potential Clinical Criteria for Physician-Assisted Suicide,” New England Journal of Medicine 327 (1992: 1380–1384.

Lowy F. , Sawyer D.M. , and Williams J.R. , “Canadian Physicians and Euthanasia: 4 Lessons from Experience,” Canadian Association Journal 148 (1993): 1895–1899.

Quill T.E. , Cassel C.K. , “Nonabandonment: A Central Obligation for Physicians,” Annals Internal Medicine 122 (1995): 368–374.

McKhann C.F. , “Is There a Role for Physician-Assisted Suicide in Cancer? Yes” Important Advances in Oncology. DeVita V.T. , Hellman S.H. , and Rosenberg S.A. (eds). Lippincott-Raven Publishers, Philadelphia, 1996, p. 269.

McKhann C.F. , “Is There a Role for Physician-Assisted Suicide in Cancer? Yes” Important Advances in Oncology. DeVita V.T. , Hellman S.H. , and Rosenberg S.A. (eds). Lippincott-Raven Publishers, Philadelphia, 1996, p. 271.

Rachels J. , “Active and Passive Euthanasia,” New England Journal of Medicine 292 (1975): 78.

Lowe S.L. , “The Right to Refuse Treatment is not a Right to be Killed,” Journal of Medical Ethics 23 (1997): 154–158.

Hopkins P.D. , “Why Does Removing Machines Count as ‘Passive’ Euthanasia?” Hastings Center Report 27 (1997): 29–37.

McKhann C.F. , “Is There a Role for Physician-Assisted Suicide in Cancer? Yes” Important Advances in Oncology. DeVita V.T. , Hellman S.H. , and Rosenberg S.A. (eds). Lippincott-Raven Publishers, Philadelphia, 1996, p. 272.

Hardwig J. , “Is There a Duty to Die?”, Hastings Center Report 21 (1997): 3442.

Royal Dutch Medical Association, Euthanasia in the Netherlands, 4th edition, Utrecht, 1995. Netherlands Remmelink Commission, Medical Practice with Regard to Euthanasia and Related Medical Decisions in the Netherlands: Results of an Inquiry and the Government's View, Netherlands: Ministry of Welfare, Health, and Cultural Affairs, 1991.

Emanuel E.J. , “Pain and Symptom Control. Patient Rights and Physician Responsibilities,” Pain and Palliative Care 10 (1996): 41–55.

Kennedy I. , “Commentary 3: A Response to Lowe,” Journal of Medical Ethics 23 (1997): 161–163.

Thomasma D.C. , and Glenn C.G. , Euthanasia: Toward an Ethical Social Policy, New York, Continuum, 1990, p. 197.

The Magisterium accepts the withdrawal or withholding of treatment in cases such as: continuation of mechanical ventilation after whole brain death, medically futile therapies that increase pain, and therapies clearly disproportionate in relation to human costs and utility for the patient (Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Declaration on Euthanasia). Ordinary care can not be interrupted, such as hydration, feeding, personal hygiene, medication and cleaning of wounds. These should be considered a right of the patient as well as not to increase the suffering of the patient in the terminal phase of the disease, even for patients in persistent vegetative state, since they are still persons (Discourse of Pope John Paul II in California, Declaration of Pro-Life Committee).

Jonsen A.R. , “Clinical Decisions to Limit Treatment,” Annals Internal Medicine 93 (1980): 764–768.

Schneiderman L.J. , Jecker N.S. , Jonsen A.R. , “Medical Futility: Its Meaning and Ethical Implication,” Annals Internal Medicine 112 (1990): 949–954.

Patterson W.B. , Emanuel E.J. , “Ethics Rounds: Euthanasia and the Care of Cancer Patients,” Journal of Clinical Oncology 7 (1994): 1516–1521.

Emanuel E.J. “A Phase 1 Trial on the Ethics of Phase 1 Trials,” Journal of Clinical Oncology, 13 (1995): 1049–1051. Deciding to Forgo Life-Sustaining Treatment, President's Commission for the Study of Ethical Problems in Medicine and Biomedical and Behavioral Research, Washington DC, US Govt Printing Office, 1983.

Ethics to Nicomacus, V, 11: 1138a 12–15.

The Magisterium has evaluated euthanasia as “a grave violation of the Law of God, since a deliberate killing is morally unacceptable for the human person” Evangelium Vitae, n. 65.