The role of the social network in active euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide

Public Health ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 110 (5) ◽  
pp. 271-275 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.T. Muller ◽  
B.D. Onwuteaka-Philipsen ◽  
G. van der Wal ◽  
J.Th.M. van Eijk ◽  
M.W. Ribbe
2016 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Gildenhuys

John Arras argues against the legalization of physician-assisted suicide and active euthanasia on the basis of social costs that he anticipates will result from legalization. Arras believes that the legalization of highly restricted physician-assisted suicide will result in the legalization of active euthanasia without special restrictions, a prediction I grant for the sake of argument. Arras further anticipates that the practices of physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia will be abused, so that many patients who engage in these practices will lose out as a result. He refers to these losses as social costs to legalization. But the social costs at play in typical public policy debates are borne by individuals other than the agent who engages in the controversial activity, specifically by people who cannot be held responsible for enduring those costs. Even if plausible interpretations of Arras’ predictions about the abuse of the practice are granted, legalization of physician-assisted suicide or euthanasia brings no social costs of this latter sort. For this reason, and also because a ban on euthanasia is unfair to those who would profit from it, the losses in utility brought about by legalization would have to be very great to justify a ban.


1997 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 424-430 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martien T. Muller ◽  
Loes Pijnenborg ◽  
Bregje D. Onwuteaka-Philipsen ◽  
Gerrit Wal ◽  
Jacques Th.M. Eijk

Crisis ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 109-115 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael J Kelleher † ◽  
Derek Chambers ◽  
Paul Corcoran ◽  
Helen S Keeley ◽  
Eileen Williamson

The present paper examines the occurrence of matters relating to the ending of life, including active euthanasia, which is, technically speaking, illegal worldwide. Interest in this most controversial area is drawn from many varied sources, from legal and medical practitioners to religious and moral ethicists. In some countries, public interest has been mobilized into organizations that attempt to influence legislation relating to euthanasia. Despite the obvious international importance of euthanasia, very little is known about the extent of its practice, whether passive or active, voluntary or involuntary. This examination is based on questionnaires completed by 49 national representatives of the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP), dealing with legal and religious aspects of euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide, as well as suicide. A dichotomy between the law and medical practices relating to the end of life was uncovered by the results of the survey. In 12 of the 49 countries active euthanasia is said to occur while a general acceptance of passive euthanasia was reported to be widespread. Clearly, definition is crucial in making the distinction between active and passive euthanasia; otherwise, the entire concept may become distorted, and legal acceptance may become more widespread with the effect of broadening the category of individuals to whom euthanasia becomes an available option. The “slippery slope” argument is briefly considered.


Humaniora ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 13
Author(s):  
Abitassha Az Zahra ◽  
Eko Priyo Purnomo ◽  
Aulia Nur Kasiwi

The research aimed to explain the pattern of social communication on the issue of rejection of the PLTU Batang development policy. It used data on Twitter accounts involved in the rejection of the PLTU Batang development policy. In analyzing existing data, qualitative methods and social analysis networks were used. To see social networks in the rejection of the PLTU Batang development policy, the research used the NodeXL application to find out the patterns of social communication networks in #TolakPLTUBatang. From the results, it can be seen that in the dissemination of social networking information, the @praditya_wibby account is the most central account in the social network and has a strong influence on the social network. The @praditya_wibby account has a role in moving the community through Twitter to make a critical social movement. This means that in the current digital era, democracy enters a new form through the movement of public opinion delivery through social media. Besides, by encouraging the role of online news, the distribution of information becomes faster to form new perceptions of an issue. This is evident from the correlation network where the @praditya_wibby account has correlations with several compass online media accounts, tirto.id, okezonenews, vice, antaranews, BBCIndonesia, and CNN Indonesia.


1992 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 369-394 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria T. CeloCruz

Recent news stories, medical journal articles, and two state voter referenda have publicized physicians’ providing their patients with aid-in-dying. This Note distinguishes two components of aid-in-dying: physician-assisted suicide and physiciancommitted voluntary active euthanasia. The Note traces these components’ distinct historical and legal treatments and critically examines arguments for and against both types of action. This Note concludes that aid-in-dying measures should limit legalization initiatives to physician-assisted suicide and should not embrace physician-committed voluntary active euthanasia.


2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rita de Cássia Melão de Morais ◽  
Tania Vignuda de Souza ◽  
Isabel Cristina dos Santos Oliveira ◽  
Juliana Rezende Montenegro Medeiros de Moraes ◽  
Elena Araújo Martinez ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze the role of the social network configured by the family/companion and their implications for their stay during the hospitalization of the child in the pediatric hospitalization unit. Method: Qualitative study with ten family members/companions of hospitalized children. Data collection was done through the technique of individual interview, which occurred in the period from February to December 2015. The analysis was thematic, in light of the theoretical reference of "Social Networks" described by Lia Sanicola. Results and discussion: The main role of the social network was emotional and material support, and the main components of this network were: companion, mother, aunt and daughter, as well as nursing team, physician and other family members/companions. Final considerations and implications for the practice: It was verified that the totality of the interviewees was female, however, the husband was the most important member of the social network for the family members involved, since they perform the material/financial and emotional function. In addition, the participants consider that they are responsible for all care to the family and, in the condition in that they are, they understand it as a favor provided by the other members of the network. Identifying the composition of the social networks of family members/companions provides a better targeting of care in order to strengthen the social support received.


Thomas Szasz ◽  
2019 ◽  
pp. 55-64
Author(s):  
George J. Annas

Szasz objected to the medicalization of suicide, the legalization of suicide prevention, and especially the coercive role of psychiatry in this realm. He declared that, by medicalizing suicide, we banish the subject from discussion. What is meant by acceptable and unacceptable “suicide”? Who has a right to commit suicide? How does suicide implicate freedom? Does it reflect abortion jurisprudence? How do psychiatrists become suicide’s gatekeepers? Current phenomena (e.g., new physician-assisted suicide legislation) illuminate these and other issues (e.g., euthanasia, informed consent, informed refusal, the “right to die,”), all suggesting how Szasz would react to each. Suicide is legal, but is almost always considered a result of mental illness. Courts approve psychiatrists who want to commit “suicidal” patients involuntarily. Granting physicians prospective legal immunity for prescribing lethal drugs is, at best, a strange and tangential reaction to our inability to discuss suicide (and dying) rationally. Szasz got it right.


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