Key legal principles relevant to the care of patients at the end of life

Question 1

Define euthanasia?

Answer 1

Action of bringing about such a death, esp. of a person who requests it as a release from incurable disease

Question 2

Is euthanasia legal in the UK?

Answer 2

Illegal in UK

Any form leads to prosecution as murder or manslaughter, can’t be defended by patient consenting, acting in patient’s best interests, ‘mercy killing’

Question 3

How will any form of euthanasia be prosecuted in the UK?

Answer 3

As murder or manslaughter

Question 4

Define suicide?

Answer 4

Act of intentionally ending one’s life

Question 5

According to The Suicide Act 1961, what is stated in S.1 and S.2 about it being an offence in the UK?

Answer 5

Suicide Act 1961 (S.1): Suicide isn’t offence

Suicide Act 1961 (S.2): Encouraging/assisting suicide is offence

Question 6

In the UK, is assisted suicide legal?

Answer 6

No

Suicide Act 1961 (S.2): Encouraging/assisting suicide is offence

Question 7

What is Dignitas?

Answer 7

Switzerland-based assisted suicide organisation that is legalised as long as it isn’t motivated by self-serving ends

Question 8

Does death have a statutory definition in UK, and why?

Answer 8

No

Because death is a biological process

Question 9

According to the academy of medical colleges, what is death?

Answer 9

Irreversible loss of consciousness combined with irreversible loss of capacity to breathe

Question 10

According to the academy of medical colleges, what is brainstem death?

Answer 10

Irreversible cessation of the integrative function of the brain stem equates with death, and allows the medical practitioner to diagnose death

Question 11

When can a clinician begin to diagnose a death?

Answer 11

After brainstem death has occurred

Question 12

What guidance is used to diagnose and confirm death in the UK?

Answer 12

A Code of Practice for the Diagnosis and Confirmation of Death (2008)