Pros and Cons of Physician Aid in Dying

Lydia S Dugdale; Barron H Lerner; Daniel Callahan

Pros and Cons of Physician Aid in Dying

Yale J Biol Med. 2019 Dec 20;92(4):747-750. eCollection 2019 Dec.

Authors

Lydia S Dugdale¹, Barron H Lerner², Daniel Callahan³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Internal Medicine, Columbia University, New York, NY.
² Department of Medicine and Population Health, New York University, New York, NY.
³ formerly of the Hastings Center, Garrison, NY.

PMID: 31866790
PMCID: PMC6913818

Abstract

The question of a physician's involvement in aid in dying (or "assisted suicide") is being debated across the country. This article adopts no one position because its authors hold contrasting views. It aims instead to articulate the strongest arguments in favor of aid in dying and the strongest arguments opposed. It also addresses relevant terminology and reviews the history of its legalization in the United States.

Keywords: Aid in dying; Autonomy; Bioethics; Death; Dying; End of life; Ethics; Physician-assisted suicide; Suicide.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Depression / psychology
Humans
Personal Autonomy
Physicians*
Suicide, Assisted* / legislation & jurisprudence
Suicide, Assisted* / psychology