Citation

LiPuma SH, DeMarco JP. Health Serv. Insights 2016; 9.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, SAGE Publications)

DOI

10.4137/HSI.S39013

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) upholds policies prohibiting practices that deliberately hasten death. We find these policies overly restrictive and unreasonable. We argue that under specified circumstances it is both reasonable and morally sound to allow for treatments that may deliberately hasten death; these treatments should be part of the NHPCO guidelines. Broadening such policies would be more consistent with the gold standard of bioethical principles, ie, respecting the autonomy of competent adults. © 2016 SAGE Publications.

Language: en

Keywords

palliative care; physician assisted suicide; continuous sedation until death; end of life care