Physician Assisted suicide

Question 1

Define physician assisted suicide?

Answer 1

Providing a competent patient with medication to use with the primary intention of ending ones own life

Question 2

Define Active Euthanasia?

Answer 2

When the doctor administers the fatal dose of medication

Question 3

What legislation covers PAS?

Answer 3

Suicide Act 1961

It assigns criminality to the acts encouraging or assisting suicide

Question 4

While PAS is illegal in the UK, Patients can deny treatment and write an Advance Directive denying treatment should they lose capacity. How do these work?

Answer 4

An AD can refuse specific treatment However a number of conditions must be met for it to be considered valid

Question 5

What conditions must be met to consider an AD valid?

Answer 5

1) Written & specific
2) Signed
3) Witnessed
4) Must have capacity at time of writing
5) Must be no evidence that they’ve changed their mind
6) Relevant to the situation at hand

Question 6

What might cause doubt over the relevancy of an AD?

Answer 6

If the patient’s personal circumstances have changed

If the treatment options have changed

Question 7

Can a patient write an AD denying treatment after a suicide attempt?

Answer 7

Yes
In fact a suicide note must be taken into account when administering treatment, but to be considered an AD it must meet the same criteria

In an emergency situation immediate life saving treatment can be delivered if there isn’t time to asses an AD

Question 8

What if you have an AD but your uncertain as to whether its valid?

Answer 8

An emergency application can be made to the hospital’s legal department, specifically the Court of Protection who assess cases 24/7

Question 9

Is PAS & euthanasia legal abroad?

Answer 9

Most countries still outlaw them
Though several European countries and some states have legalised one or both
E.g. Switzerland legalized PAS but not Euthanasia