Citation

Gulino M, Frati G, Vergallo GM, Frati P. J. Med. Ethics 2011; 37(9): 573-576.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, BMJ Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1136/jme.2011.042267

PMID

21685146

Abstract

Monicelli's suicide has reawakened a political and legal dispute about the medical role in end-of-life decisions, allowing us to discuss medical, ethical, legal, religious and political debate in various paradigmatic conscious and unconscious cases of end-of-life decision. We analyse the uncertainty about the 'a priori' choice between different specific legislative systems, highlighting the need for a unifying model, dictated by the existing trust in the critical relationship between patient and doctor, whose primary mission should be not only 'to cure' but also 'to care'.

Language: en

Keywords

Humans; Suicide; Physician-Patient Relations; Euthanasia; Politics; Terminal Care; Ethics, Medical; Advance Directives; Morals; Patient Rights; Living Wills