Citation

Broeckaert B, Claessens P. Acta Hospitalia 2003; 43(4): 9-20+93.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2003)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This article discusses the different types of physician-assisted death or euthanasia. After giving a brief history of the concepts used to denote the different acts performed by physicians that shorten the life of the patient, we discuss the withholding and withdrawing of life-sustaining treatment, pain and symptom control with life-shortening effect, palliative sedation, and active termination of life (euthanasia, assisted suicide). The purpose of this article is to offer a conceptual framework in which the different types of physician-assisted death can be distinguished and so to facilitate a meaningful ethical discussion of these sensitive topics.

Language: nl

Keywords

Ethics; Euthanasia; End of life; Palliative sedation