Treatment, Palliative Care or Euthanasia? Comparing End of Life Issues in Veterinary and Human

Mapping Intimacies ◽

10.20944/preprints201708.0094.v1 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Ruth E. Eyre-Pugh ◽

James W. Yeates

Keyword(s):

End Of Life ◽

Conflicts Of Interest ◽

Medical Science ◽

Patient Choice ◽

Primary Role ◽

Best Interest ◽

Ethical Argument ◽

Life Issues ◽

End Of Life Issues ◽

The Uk

This is the second part of a series of two papers comparing the end of life issues in human and veterinary medicine. This paper adds to the review with additional new references, taking the form of an ethical argument from an independent veterinary perspective. There are some fundamental differences outlined such as patient communication, finance and ‘conflicts of interest’ between animal, owner and veterinarian but many striking similarities between human and veterinary issues such as assessing quality of life and the primary role of the attending veterinarian or doctor being the welfare and care of the patient. Clinical veterinarians are well trained in the ethics of euthanasia and are experienced in its use on a daily basis in the best interest of their animal patients. Doctors in the UK are limited and unwilling to put forward a case for the option of euthanasia for those patients who could face a slow and agonizing death due to refractory symptoms. With advances in medical science being able to significantly prolong the dying process, autonomy for the patient demands a review of the law regarding patient choice in the UK at the end of life.

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Treatment, Palliative Care or Euthanasia? Comparing End of Life Issues in Veterinary and Human Medicine

10.20944/preprints201708.0094.v2 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Ruth E. Eyre-Pugh

Keyword(s):

End Of Life ◽

Conflicts Of Interest ◽

Medical Science ◽

Human Medicine ◽

Patient Choice ◽

Primary Role ◽

Best Interest ◽

Life Issues ◽

End Of Life Issues ◽

The Uk

This is the second of a series of two papers comparing the end of life issues in human and veterinary medicine. We outline the main differences between human and animal patients such as patient communication, finance and ‘conflicts of interest’ between animal, owner and veterinarian. We discuss striking similarities between human and veterinary issues such as assessing quality of life and the primary role of the attending veterinarian or doctor being the welfare and care of the patient. This paper takes the form of an ethical argument in favour of allowing euthanasia in human medicine, by providing insights into end of life issues for humans from an independent veterinary perspective. Veterinary surgeons are well trained in the ethics of euthanasia and put it to good use in the best interest of their animal patients. Doctors in the UK are limited and unwilling to put forward a case for the option of euthanasia for those patients who face a slow and agonizing death. With advances in medical science being able to significantly prolong the dying process, autonomy for the patient demands a review of the law regarding patient choice in the UK.

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Treatment, Palliative Care or Euthanasia? Comparing End of Life Issues in Human and Veterinary Medicine

10.20944/preprints201708.0084.v2 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Ruth E. Eyre-Pugh

Keyword(s):

Veterinary Medicine ◽

End Of Life ◽

Assisted Suicide ◽

Best Practice ◽

Medical Profession ◽

Medical Science ◽

Physician Assisted Suicide ◽

Best Interest ◽

End Of Life Issues ◽

The Uk

Not a lot is known about either death or the dying process. Politicians and many in the medical profession in the UK tend to shy away from interfering with it by not allowing euthanasia as an end of life option for the patient. This is the first paper in a series of two, comparing the situation in human medicine and veterinary medicine, in which euthanasia is well practiced for relieving suffering at the end of an animal’s life. This first part takes the form of a literature review including best practice around end of life care, its deficiencies and the need for assisted dying. Veterinary surgeons are well trained in the ethics of euthanasia and put it to good use in the best interest of their animal patients. In countries which have legalized physician assisted suicide for the terminally ill reporting indicates that it works well, without increases in involuntary euthanasia and most importantly without intimidation of the vulnerable. However, there is still an ever increasing tendency to overuse sedation and opioids at the end of life, which merits further investigation. With advances in medical science able to significantly prolong the dying process, patient autonomy demands a review of the law in the UK.

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Treatment, Palliative Care or Euthanasia? Comparing End of Life Issues in Human and Veterinary Medicine

10.20944/preprints201708.0084.v1 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Ruth E. Eyre-Pugh ◽

James W. Yeates

Keyword(s):

Veterinary Medicine ◽

End Of Life ◽

Assisted Suicide ◽

Best Practice ◽

Medical Profession ◽

Medical Science ◽

Physician Assisted Suicide ◽

Best Interest ◽

End Of Life Issues ◽

The Uk

Not a lot is known about either death or the dying process. Politicians and the medical profession in the UK tend to shy away from interfering with it by not allowing euthanasia as an end of life option for the patient. This is the first paper in a series of two, comparing the situation in human medicine and veterinary medicine, in which euthanasia is well practiced for relieving suffering at the end of life. This first part takes the form of a literature review including best practice around end of life care, its deficiencies and the need for assisted dying. Veterinary surgeons are well trained in the ethics of euthanasia and put it to good use in the best interest of their animal patients. In countries which have legalized physician assisted suicide for the terminally ill reporting indicates that it works well, without increases in involuntary euthanasia and most importantly without intimidation of the vulnerable. However, there is still an ever increasing tendency to overuse sedation and opioids at the end of life, which merits further investigation. With advances in medical science able to significantly prolong the dying process, patient autonomy demands a review of the law in the UK.

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Empirical Analysis of Suicide Tourism

Suicide Tourism ◽

10.1093/oso/9780198825456.003.0006 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 137-178

Author(s):

Daniel Sperling

Keyword(s):

End Of Life ◽

Empirical Analysis ◽

Media Coverage ◽

Assisted Suicide ◽

Social Phenomenon ◽

Key Stakeholders ◽

Life Issues ◽

End Of Life Issues ◽

The Many ◽

The Uk

This chapter provides an empirical analysis of suicide tourism. It includes extracts of interviews with key stakeholders in the field of assisted suicide from around Europe. In many countries, there have been legal and public proceedings discussing end-of-life issues (notably assisted suicide), accompanied by varied media coverage of stories of suicide tourism. In some cases, for example Canada, suicide tourism was a social phenomenon that the legislator wanted to prevent while legalizing assisted suicide. In others, especially the UK and Germany, suicide tourism was referred to by opponents or supporters of proposed laws to legalize or criminalize assisted suicide. This chapter reflects on the fact that, despite these proceedings and the many arguments raised by campaigners to change existing prohibitions against assisted suicide in countries of origin, the law in these countries has not changed, and in some cases its position on assisted suicide has become more prohibitive.

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