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Hong, Young-Seon;Yeom, Chang-Hwan;Lee, Kyung-Shik
- Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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- v.2 no.1
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- pp.1-6
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- 1999
Background : Euthanasia is defined as "a deliberate intervention undertaken with express intention of ending a life so as to relieve intractable suffering". There have been keen debates in the medical literatures on the questions relating to the legalisation and the provision of euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide. Methods : Literatures on the debate of euthanasia published during the last several years were reviewed, and the indications used in performing euthanasia were listed. And the results of a more liberal policy on euthanasia in Netherland were introduced. Results : Other clinical practices are sometimes described as euthanasia but can be distinguished by examination of ethical principles involved. The guidelines for the practice of euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide in the Netherlands were inadquate and were abused, while the Remmelink Committee Report said that euthanasia in the Netherland had been adequate. Conclusions : There are no clinical situations necessitating the legalisation of euthanasia or physician assisted suicide. Comprehensive and mutidisciplinary palliative care can effectively relieve much of the suffering of the terminally ill that is presently cited as justification for euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide.
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