Abstract
The conference, ‘Physician assisted death — a good death?’ at the Royal College of Physicians in Edinburgh in early October, invited healthcare professionals, lawyers, students in related disciplines, and concerned members of the public, to consider the very important subject, ‘What is a good death today?’ In some countries it is legal for doctors to assist a person to commit suicide, but Lord Joffe's proposals to the House of Lords and MSP Jeremy Purvis' proposals to the Scottish Parliament in favour of patient-assisted death (PAS) have both been rejected. Yet, a recent study in the Journal of Medical Ethics examined statistics relating to assisted dying schemes in Oregon (where 50–60 people per year opt for the scheme) and the Netherlands, and reported that there was no evidence for current concerns around legalised PAS or voluntary euthanasia. They found no justification for fears that the vulnerable in society might be subjected to pressure and be disproportionately likely to take the decision …
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
