Euthanasia

Euthanasia is a deliberate act or omission, undertaken with the intention of ending a person’s life. The acts of euthanasia or assisted suicide (helping someone to die at their request) are not within the remit of health professionals, and are illegal in Australia.

A request for euthanasia sometimes comes from family members. Nurses are sometimes asked by families to give their loved one something to 'end it all'. This can be when the person is unconscious or in the final days of life, and appear uncomfortable or as if they are suffering. Families will sometimes draw comparisons with the humane treatment of animals.

Euthanasia has been an ever present debate in palliative care. The last two decades have seen a rise in active pro-euthanasia advocates pushing for legislation across the world. However, palliative care is aimed at supporting people at the end of their life, and this never involves an intention to end a patient's life.

Any requests for euthanasia need to be addressed. Sitting down and listening to their concerns and fears can help find out how they have come to make this request. Talking to others within the health care team whenever possible, also provides a multidisciplinary approach to a situation that shouldn’t rest with one practitioner.

Resources

End of Life / Palliative Education Resource Centre (EPERC) Fast Facts
- Evaluating requests for hastened death
- Responding to a request for hastening death
The Australian Medical Association has information on the role of the Medical Practitioner in end-of-life care (2007)
The truth about dying explores some end of life ethical concepts in an ABC radio show
The International Association of Hospice and Palliative care IAHPC Manual of Palliative Care 2nd Edition has a section on Ethical Issues.
The Center for Bioethics, University of Minnesota (US) has a document: End of Life Care: An Ethical Overview
The Southern Cross Bioethics Institute website provides access to information on bioethical legislation in Australia, much of which is relevant to palliative care. It can be different in each State and Territory, such as the Consent to Medical Treatment and Palliative Care Act 1995 (SA) and the Medical Treatment Act 1994 (ACT).
The European Association for Palliative Care Ethics Taskforce on Palliative Care and Euthanasia
The General Medical Council in the UK has produced a guidance for doctors that may be of interest: Treatment and Care Towards the End of Life – Good practice in decision-making.