Abstract
Continuous sedation until death (CSD) is a rapidly developing
practice in several countries, appearing as more acceptable than
euthanasia/physician-assisted-suicide, since more close to a
‘natural death’. The French parliament is going to adopt soon a law
recommending CSD on request of the patient, along with forgoing
artificial feeding and hydration. France will have thus a unique
international position for end-of-life care.
Yet many ethical problems raised by CSD, in which psychosocial
death preceeds the biological death, have already been raised
in the literature. The legitimacy of CSD, especially if deep and not
proportionate, is questioned in case of existential distress. The
primacy given to autonomy is questionable for vulnerable patients
who deserve mainly a social solidarity. The double effect principle
is replaced by a co-intention, putting CSD in a grey zone between
palliation and euthanasia
AbstractContinuous sedation until death (CSD) is a rapidly developingpractice in several countries, appearing as more acceptable thaneuthanasia/physician-assisted-suicide, since more close to a‘natural death’. The French parliament is going to adopt soon a lawrecommending CSD on request of the patient, along with forgoingartificial feeding and hydration. France will have thus a uniqueinternational position for end-of-life care.Yet many ethical problems raised by CSD, in which psychosocialdeath preceeds the biological death, have already been raisedin the literature. The legitimacy of CSD, especially if deep and notproportionate, is questioned in case of existential distress. Theprimacy given to autonomy is questionable for vulnerable patientswho deserve mainly a social solidarity. The double effect principleis replaced by a co-intention, putting CSD in a grey zone betweenpalliation and euthanasia
การแปล กรุณารอสักครู่..