Citation

Malpas PJ, Owens RG. Mortality 2016; 21(4): 295-304.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/13576275.2015.1137279

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Much has been written about the ethical issues involved in euthanasia, assisted suicide and other forms of assisted dying. Such discussions have often raised legitimate concerns and challenges to those arguing the case for some form of assisted dying to be legalised. A further concern, though, which relates only tangentially if at all to the ethical issues, is whether or not this is an acceptable part of a doctor's role. The present paper outlines some of the concerns that have been raised regarding such a change or extension of role, and considers them from historical, societal, empirical and professional perspectives. It is concluded that there is no strong argument, in principle, which precludes assistance in dying from being part of a doctor's role. © 2016 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

Language: en

Keywords

human; death; dying; euthanasia; physician; human experiment; assisted dying; doctor