Citation

Guzek A. Dynamische Psychiatrie 2008; 41(1-4): 59-75.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The author uses literature as well as his own experience of more than 25 years practice to analyze chosen individual and group psychological defense mechanisms of coping with the awareness of inevitable death typical for the modem Euro-American society. Ethical, philosophical, and psychological problems connected with or deriving from the fear of dying as well as their influence on doctor-patient relationship in terminal care are being discussed. Cryogenics, assisted suicide, and active euthanasia are shown as a means of rather denying the awareness of death and dying or 'outsmarting death' than, what is usually claimed, of maintaining the dignity of life to its very end. © 2008 Copyright by 'Pinel' Verlag, Berlin.

Language: de

Keywords

Ethics; Euthanasia; Cryogenics