Consideraciones sobre la eutanasia como práctica médica

There is no author summary for this article yet. Authors can add summaries to their articles on ScienceOpen to make them more accessible to a non-specialist audience.

Abstract

Se exponen algunas consideraciones acerca de criterios en torno a la eutanasia, así como la polémica que desde puntos de vista religiosos, políticos y económicos influyen en la discusión de este tema. Se muestra el enfoque del sistema socialista de salud donde se considera la necesidad de humanizar la situación del enfermo en fase terminal, pues la opción por la eutanasia se podría prestar a cometer abusos graves sobre los más desamparados obviando la responsabilidad humana y ética de «ayudar a morir».

Translated abstract

Authors expose some considerations on criteria related to euthanasia, as well as the controversy that from the religious, political, and economic point of view influenced in discussion of this matter. We show the health socialist system approach where need of humanize the situation of sick persons is considered, since euthanasia option could be a reason to commit severe abuses in the more helpless obviating human ethics and responsibility of "to help to dye".

Related collections

Most cited references 28

Record: found
Abstract: found
Article: not found

Physicians' responses to patients' requests for physician-assisted suicide.

Lesley Rhodes, R Pearlman, T Koepsell … (2001)

Studies show that patient requests for physician-assisted suicide (PAS) are a relatively common clinical occurrence. The purpose of this study was to describe how experienced physicians assess and respond to requests for assisted suicide. Focused ethnography in the offices of 11 acquired immunodeficiency syndrome physicians, 8 oncologists, and 1 hospice physician who had received requests for assisted suicide in their practice. Ten had facilitated PAS. Informants had a similar approach to evaluating patients who requested assisted suicide, often asking, "Why do you want to die now?" Reasons for requests fell into 3 broad categories: physical symptoms, psychological issues, and existential suffering. Physicians thought they competently addressed patients' physical symptoms, and this obviated most requests. They treated depression empirically and believed they did not assist depressed patients with assisted suicide. Physicians had difficulty addressing patients' existential suffering, which led to most facilitated requests. Informants rarely talked to colleagues about requests for assisted suicide, suggesting a "professional code of silence." Regardless of divergent attitudes about PAS, physicians respond similarly to requests for assisted suicide from their patients, creating a common ground for professional dialogue. Our sample addressed physical suffering aggressively, treated depression empirically, but struggled with requests arising from existential suffering. A professional code of silence regarding PAS creates professional isolation. Clinicians do not share knowledge or receive social support from peers about their decisions regarding assisted suicide. Educational strategies drawing on approaches used by experienced clinicians may create an atmosphere that enables physicians with divergent beliefs to discuss this difficult subject.