Legalizing Assisted Suicide — Views of Physicians in Oregon

Lee, Melinda A.; Nelson, Heidi D; Tilden, Virginia P.; Ganzini, Linda; Schmidt, Terri A.; Tolle, Susan W.

doi:10.1056/nejm199602013340507

Cited by 216 publications

(113 citation statements)

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“…As such, determining the prevalence of the WTHD in chronically ill or endstage patients continues to pose a serious challenge [75]. Although numerous studies carried out mainly in the United States [49,[76][77][78], as well as in Holland [58,79], have sought to specify the prevalence of the WTHD, the above-mentioned limitations (especially the lack of conceptual clarity) make it difficult to obtain comparable results [10].…”

Section: Epidemiology Of the Wthd And Instruments For Measuring Itmentioning

confidence: 99%

The wish to hasten death: a review of clinical studies

et al. 2010

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It is common for patients who are faced with physical or psychological suffering, particularly those in the advanced stages of a disease, to have some kind of wish to hasten death (WTHD). This paper reviews and summarises the current state of knowledge about the WTHD among people with end-stage disease, doing so from a clinical perspective and on the basis of published clinical research. Studies were identified through a search strategy applied to the main scientific databases.Clinical studies show that the WTHD has a multi-factor aetiology. The literature review suggests-perhaps in line with better management of physical pain-that psychological and spiritual aspects, including social factors, are the most important cause of such a wish. One of the difficulties facing clinical research is the lack of terminological and conceptual precision in defining the construct. Indeed, studies frequently blur the distinction between a generic wish to die, a WTDH (whether sporadic or persistent over time), the explicit expression of a wish to die, and a request for euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide.A notable contribution to knowledge in this field has been made by scales designed to evaluate the WTHD, although the problems of conceptual definition may once again limit the conclusions, which can be drawn from the results. Studies using qualitative methodology have also provided new information that can help in understanding such wishes.Further clinical research is needed to provide a complete understanding of this phenomenon and to foster the development of suitable care plans.

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Section: Epidemiology Of the Wthd And Instruments For Measuring Itmentioning

confidence: 99%

The wish to hasten death: a review of clinical studies

et al. 2010

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“…3 First, the increasing public interest in humane terminal care necessarily requires that medical professionals be more willing to make and act on predictions about the timing of impending death. A physician's prognostic assessment that a patient is "terminally ill" is an essential element, for example, in the withdrawal or withholding of life support from critically ill patients, 4 in proposals regarding physician-assisted suicide, [5][6][7][8] and in qualifying for the Medicare hospice benefit. 9 Second, as the avoidance of futile treatment assumes increasing prominence for reasons of justice, beneficence, or cost containment, [10][11][12] prognostication-which is, after all, the fundamental and essential basis for a determination of "futility"-will increase in importance.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Attitude and Self-reported Practice Regarding Prognostication in a National Sample of Internists

Christakis¹,

Iwashyna²

1998

Arch Intern Med

402

303

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“…10 Lee et al found that 21 percent of Oregon physicians had received a request for physician-assisted suicide in the past year and that 7 percent had written at least one lethal prescription at a patient's request. 11 In Washington State 12 percent of physicians had received requests for physicianassisted suicide and 4 percent had received a request for euthanasia during the preceding year. 12 In both cases 24 percent of requests were granted.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%