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eMJA: The intention to hasten death of terminally ill patients
The intention to hasten death of terminally ill patients Mathew Piercy, Gerald B Fogarty, Aubrey W Jansz and David M Gawler MJA 2002 177 (3): 165-167 To the Editor: The study by Douglas et al1 reports that the purposeful hastening of death in terminal illness is both widely practised and an acceptable method of palliative care for over a third of Australian surgeons. Yet the study is based on a questionnaire strongly favouring theoretical scenarios rather than actual practice. The framing of the questions maximises reporting bias towards "hastening death" by the use of absolute terms (eg, "Have you ever . . .?"; "[Are] there any circumstances . . .?"1). The study also fails to determine the stage in a terminal illness at which hastening of death had been, or might possibly be, acceptable to the surgeons, nor the reason for its implementation. If the patient's symptoms are already adequately controlled and the dying process is not prolonged, we do not see why it is necessary to administer doses in excess of those required to control symptoms. Whose symptoms are we treating? Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute, East Melbourne, VIC. Mathew Piercy, MB BS, Critical Care Registrar; Gerald B Fogarty, BSc, MB BS(Hons) , Radiation Oncology Registrar. John Faulkner Hospital, Coburg, VIC. Aubrey W Jansz, MB BS, FRACS, Senior General Surgeon. Northern Hospital, Epping, VIC. David M Gawler, MB BS, FRACS, FRCS, Senior Vascular Surgeon. Correspondence: Dr Mathew Piercy, Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute, East Melbourne, VIC 3002. mepiercyATidx.com.au Douglas CD, Kerridge IH, Rainbird KJ, et al.

Full Article: http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/177_03_050802/piercy_050802.html

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